FAMOUS BOOKS OF AHADEETH AND THEIR SPECIALITIES

 

 

FAMOUS BOOKS OF AHADEETH AND THEIR SPECIALITIES

 

 

In Islam, the books of **Hadith** (sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) are categorized based on their authenticity, reliability, and the methodology of their compilation. The most famous Hadith collections are divided into

**primary (canonical) books** and **secondary collections**, each with different ranks in terms of authenticity and scholarly preference.

 

 **1. The Six Major Books (Al-Kutub Al-Sittah) – Sunni Islam**

 

These are the most authentic and widely accepted Hadith collections in Sunni Islam, ranked based on their reliability:

 

 

 

**(1) Sahih al-Bukhari (صحيح البخاري)**-

 

**Compiler:** Imam Muhammad al-Bukhari (d. 256 AH)

 

- **Hadith Count:** ~7,563 (including repetitions)

 

- **Rank:** ** Most authentic book after the Quran.**

 

- Strictest criteria for authenticity (only the most rigorously verified narrations).

 

- Arranged by topics (Fiqh chapters).

 

**(2) Sahih Muslim (صحيح مسلم)**

 

- **Compiler:** Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (d. 261 AH)

 

- **Hadith Count:** ~7,500 (including repetitions)

 

- **Rank:** ** Second most authentic Hadith book.**

 

- Slightly less strict than Bukhari but still extremely reliable.

 

- Better organized in terms of chain of narrations (Isnad).

 

 

 **(3) Sunan Abu Dawud (سنن أبي داود)**

 

- **Compiler:** Abu Dawud al-Sijistani (d. 275 AH)

 

- **Hadith Count:** ~4,800

 

- **Rank:** ** Third in authenticity, focuses on legal Hadith (Ahkam).**

 

- Contains some weak (Da'if) Hadith, but the compiler usually points them out.

 

 

**(4) Jami' al-Tirmidhi (جامع الترمذي)**

 

- **Compiler:** Imam al-Tirmidhi (d. 279 AH)

 

- **Hadith Count:** ~3,956

 

- **Rank:** ** Contains Hasan (good), Sahih (authentic), and some Da'if (weak) Hadith.**

 

- Known for grading Hadith (first to classify Hadith as Hasan).

 

- Includes explanations of Fiqh differences among scholars.

 

 

 

**(5) Sunan al-Nasa'i (سنن النسائي)**

 

- **Compiler:** Imam al-Nasa'i (d. 303 AH)

 

- **Hadith Count:** ~5,270 (in the main version, *Al-Mujtaba*)

 

- **Rank:** ** Highly reliable, similar to Abu Dawud.**

 

- Strict in selection; weak Hadith are fewer compared to others.

 

 

 

**(6) Sunan Ibn Majah (سنن ابن ماجه)**

 

- **Compiler:** Ibn Majah (d. 273 AH)

 

- **Hadith Count:** ~4,341

 

- **Rank:** ** Last of the six, contains more weak narrations.**

 

- Some scholars replace it with **Muwatta Malik** in the "Six Books."

 

 **(7) Muwatta Malik (موطأ مالك)**

 

- **Compiler:** Imam Malik ibn Anas (d. 179 AH)

 

- **Rank:** ** One of the earliest Hadith collections.**

 

- Considered highly authentic; some scholars rank it above Ibn Majah.

 

- Basis of the Maliki school of Fiqh.

 

 

 

 **(8) Musnad Ahmad (مسند أحمد)**

 

- **Compiler:** Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241 AH)

 

- **Hadith Count:** ~27,000

 

- **Rank:** ** Largest collection, includes Sahih, Hasan, and weak Hadith.**

 

- Not strictly filtered like Bukhari & Muslim, but still valuable.

 

 

 

**(9) Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah & Sahih Ibn Hibban**

 

- **Rank:** ** Additional authentic collections** but not part of the "Six Books."

 

 

 

**(10) Sunan al-Daraqutni & Sunan al-Bayhaqi**

 

- **Rank:** ** Later collections with some weak narrations but useful for Fiqh discussions.**

 

 

 **Ranking Summary (Sunni Perspective)**

 

| Rank | Book | Compiler | Notes |
|------|--------------------|-------------------|--------------------------------|

 

| 1 | Sahih al-Bukhari | Imam al-Bukhari | Most authentic after Quran |

 

| 2 | Sahih Muslim | Imam Muslim | Very close to Bukhari |

 

| 3 | Sunan Abu Dawud | Abu Dawud | Best for Fiqh rulings |

 

| 4 | Jami' al-Tirmidhi | Al-Tirmidhi | Introduced Hasan Hadith |

 

| 5 | Sunan al-Nasa'i | Al-Nasa'i | Highly reliable |

 

| 6 | Sunan Ibn Majah | Ibn Majah | Weakest of the six |

 

 **Conclusion**

 

- **Sahihayn (Bukhari & Muslim)** are the **gold standard** for Hadith authenticity.

 

- The **four Sunan** (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah) are essential for Fiqh studies.

 

- **Muwatta Malik** and **Musnad Ahmad** are also highly respected but not part of the "Six Books" in all traditions.

 

 

*Riyad us-Saliheen*

 

*Riyad us-Saliheen* (Gardens of the Righteous) is a renowned compilation of hadiths (sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) by Imam Yahya ibn Sharaf an-Nawawi (1233–1277 CE). It is one of the most respected and widely studied books in Islamic literature. Here are some of its special features:

 

 **1. Comprehensive Compilation**

 

- Contains **1,896 hadiths** covering various aspects of life, including faith, worship, morality, social conduct, and spirituality.

 

- Organized into **372 chapters**, each focusing on a specific theme.

 

 **2. Authentic Selection**

 

- Imam Nawawi selected hadiths primarily from **Sahih al-Bukhari** and **Sahih Muslim**, the two most authentic books in Sunni Islam.
- Also includes narrations from other reliable sources like *Sunan Abu Dawood*, *Jami’ at-Tirmidhi*, and *Sunan an-Nasa’i*.

 

*3. Focus on Practical Guidance**

 

- Emphasizes ** ethics, piety, and righteous behavior** rather than just legal rulings.

 

- Covers topics like sincerity, repentance, patience, gratitude, good character, and kindness.

 

 **4. Easy to Understand**

 

- The hadiths are presented in a **simple and concise** manner, making them accessible to both scholars and general readers.

 

- Imam Nawawi often provides brief explanations where needed.

 

 **5. Spiritual & Moral Enrichment**

 

- Acts as a **manual for personal development** in Islam.

 

- Encourages self-discipline, humility, and devotion to Allah.

 

**6. Widely Studied & Taught**

 

- Used in ** Islamic schools, mosques, and study circles** worldwide.

 

- Many scholars write commentaries on it, such as

 

*Minhaj al-Muhsinin* by Sheikh Muhammad ibn Uthaymeen.

 

 **7. Balanced Approach**

 

- Covers both **acts of worship (ibadah)** and **social dealings (muamalat)**.

 

- Promotes a **moderate and balanced Islamic lifestyle**.

 

 **8. Popular for Daily Reading**

 

- Many Muslims read it daily for **spiritual upliftment** and to gain the Prophet’s ﷺ teachings in bite-sized portions.

 

 **Conclusion**

 

*Riyad us-Saliheen* is a timeless masterpiece that serves as a **practical guide to Islamic living**, combining authentic hadiths with moral and spiritual lessons. Its structured approach and relevance to daily life make it a favorite among Muslims seeking to improve their faith and character.

 

 

 

*Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh* (مشكاة المصابيح)

 

*Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh* (مشكاة المصابيح) is a renowned classical Islamic hadith collection compiled by **Imam Waliuddin Abu Abdullah Mahmud Al-Tabrizi** (d. 741 AH). It is an expanded and refined version of *Masabih al-Sunnah* by **Imam Abu Muhammad al-Husayn al-Baghawi** (d. 516 AH).

 

**Key Features & Specialty of Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh:**

 

1. **Comprehensive Hadith Compilation**

 

- Contains around **4,435 to 5,000+ hadiths** (depending on editions).

 

- Covers **beliefs, worship, morals, social conduct, and legal rulings**.

 

2. **Unique Classification System**

 

- Divides hadiths into **97 books (kutub)** and

**many chapters (Abwaab)**.

 

- Follows a **Fiqh-based arrangement**, making it useful for scholars and students.

 

3. **Combination of Sahih & Hasan Hadiths**

 

- Includes **authentic (sahih), good (hasan), and weak (da'if) narrations** (though not always graded).

 

- Relies on **Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasai, Ibn Majah, and Musnad Ahmad**.

 

4. **Improved Version of Masabih al-Sunnah**

 

- Al-Tabrizi **added chains (Asanid)** to hadiths missing in Al-Baghawi’s original work.
- Included **additional hadiths from major collections**.

 

5. **Widely Studied & Commented Upon**

 

- Many scholars wrote **sharh (commentaries)** on it, such as:

 

- *Mirqat al-Mafatih* by **Mulla Ali al-Qari** (d. 1014 AH) – a famous detailed explanation.

 

- *Al-Ta'leeq al-Sabeeh* by **Shah Waliullah Dehlawi** (d. 1176 AH).

 

6. **Popular in South Asia & Beyond**

 

- Used in **madrasas** as an intermediate hadith text between *Riyad al-Salihin* and the *Sihah Sittah*.

 

- Translated into **Urdu, English, and other languages**.

 

**Why is Mishkaat Special?**

 

✅ **Balanced Selection** – Covers key topics without being overly lengthy.

 

✅ **Easy Reference** – Organized by subject matter for practical use.

 

✅ **Bridge Between Basic & Advanced Studies** – Helps students transition to larger collections.