Hadiths are the second most important source of knowledge in Islam, right after the glorious Quran. They hold immense importance in Islam, offering us deeper insights into the Quran and the teachings of our beloved Prophet ﷺ.
Islamic scholars have classified Hadiths into various categories and types. Let’s explore these classifications and learn how they enhance our understanding of Islam, Insha’Allah.
What is Hadith?
Hadith (حَدِيثُ) has both a linguistic and an Islamic definition. According to Allama Jawhari (RA):
الحَدِيثُ الكَلَامُ قَلِيلُهُ وَكَثِيرُهُ وَجَمْعُهُ أَحَادِيتُ
Meaning: “Hadith is speech, whether it is little or much, and its plural is ahadith.”
Scholars of science of Hadith have defined it in various ways. Some say:
أقْوَالُ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمْ وَأَفْعَالُهُ
Meaning: “(Hadith is) the speech and action of Rasulullah ﷺ ”
Others say:
أقْوَالُ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمْ وَأَفْعَالُهُ وَأَحْوَالَهُ
Meaning: “(Hadith is) the speech, action, and circumstances of life of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ”
Allama Sakhari (RA) says this about Hadith:
“In Islamic terminology, Hadith refers to everything related to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , including his speech, actions, approval, characteristics, and movements, whether he was awake or asleep.”
Components of Hadith
The basic components of a Hadith are three. They are:
- Isnad (إسناد) i.e. the chain of narrators
- Taraf (طرف) i.e. introductory text
- Matn (مَتْن) i.e. the main text
Types of Hadith
Depending on criteria, Hadiths can be categorised in 5 different categories. They are:
a) Reference of Hadith
b) Sequence of Narrators
c) Number of Narrators
d) Soundness of Matn and Isnad
e) Authenticity of Narrators
Now we will discuss each category in further detail.
a) Reference of Hadith
Based on who we can trace back the Hadith up to, it is divided into 4 subcategories.
1. Marfu (مرفوع) Hadith
Marfu means ‘ascended’. In the science of Hadith, Marfu Hadiths refer to the direct speech, action, consent, physical attributes of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , whether it was narrated by a Sahabi, Tabe’i, or someone later.
For example Umar (R) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ،
Meaning: “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions” [Sahih Bukhari: 1]
2. Mau’quf (موقوف) Hadith
Mau’quf means ‘tired’, ‘halted’, or ‘sacrificed’. These are the sayings and actions of the Sahaba (R).
For example, Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (R) narrated:
إِنَّ اللهَ نَظَرَ فِي قُلُوبِ الْعِبَادِ فَوَجَدَ قَلْبَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَيْرَ
Meaning: “Verily Allah looked at the hearts of his servants and found the heart of Muhammad ﷺ the best” [Tabarani: 9/118]
Since the chain of narration of this Hadith stops at a Sahabi (R.), it is a Mau’quf Hadith.
3. Maqtu (مقْطوعُ) Hadith
Maqtu means ‘cut off’. It is said so because Maqtu Hadiths are the speeches and actions of the Tabe’is, which are not directly linked to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or the Sahaba (R).
Note: Some scholars have differed on whether Maqtu should be referred to as Hadith. One such scholar is Imam Zarkashi (RA). However, the general consensus is that Maqtu is a form of Hadith.
4. Qudsi ( القدسي) Hadith
Qudus (قُدُس) means holy. In the science of Hadith, Qudsi Hadiths are the direct speech of Allah Azza Wa Jalla narrated in the words of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. These Hadiths are not a part of the Quran.
For example, Abu Hurairah (R) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ، إِلاَّ الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ
Meaning: “(Allah said), ‘Every good deed of Adam’s son is for him except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.’” [Sahih Bukhari: 5927]
Note: The Quran is the direct word of Allah. Jibril (AS) conveyed it to the heart of our beloved Prophet ﷺ without any alteration. It is not permissible nor possible to alter the glorious Quran. Allah Himself has taken the duty of protecting His word. Qudsi Hadiths do not hold this status.
b) Sequence of Narrators
Based on the sequence of narrators, Hadiths are classified into the following categories.
1. Musnad (مسْنَدُ) Hadith
It is defined as:
وَالْمُسْنَدُ الْمُتَّصِلُ الإسْنادِ مِنْ| رَاوِيهِ حَتَّى الْمُصْطَفَى وَلَمْ يَبِنْ
Meaning: “Musnad are those Hadiths in which the chain of narration is intact up until Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ without any break.”
2. Muttasil (متَّصِلْ) Hadith
The linguistic meaning of Muttasil is ‘combined’. A Muttasil Hadith has a continuous chain of narration, with each narrator directly hearing from the one before them. It is defined as:
وَما بِسَمْعِ كُلِّ راوٍ يَتَّصِلْ ।إسْنادُهُ لِلْمُصْطَفَى فَالْمُتَّصِلْ
Meaning: “A hadith whose chain of transmission (Isnad) is connected through the hearing of each narrator, reaching all the way to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, is called ‘Muttasil.’”
3. Mursal (مُرْسَلٌ) Hadith
The linguistic meaning of Mursal is to ‘set free’. These Hadiths are defined as:
وَمُرْسَلٌ مِنْهُ الصَّحَابِيُّ سَقَطْ
Meaning: “And Mursal (is the one) in which the Sahabi has been omitted.”
Note: In easier terms, a Hadith in which the Tabe’i does not mention the name
of the Sahabi he/she heard the Hadith from is a Mursal Hadith.
4. Munqati (مُنْقَطِعُ) Hadith
The linguistic meaning of Munqati is ‘disconnected portion’. These Hadiths are defined as:
وَكُلُّ مَا لَمْ يَتَّصِلْ بِحَالِ |إسْنَادُهُ مُنْقَطِعُ الأوْصَالِ
Meaning: “And any hadith whose chain of narration (Isnad) is not Muttasil i.e. not continuous in any way is called ‘Munqati’ (broken).”
In easier terms, a Hadith which has one or more narrators missing in the middle, is called Munqati.
5. Mu’adal (معْضَلُ) Hadith
Linguistic meaning of Mu’adal is ‘tough’. It is defined as:
وَالْمُعْضَلُ السَّاقِطُ مِنْهُ اثْنَانِ
Meaning: “And from it (Mu’adal), two narrators have fallen (i.e. missing).
6. Mu’allaq (معلق) Hadith
Linguistic meaning of Mu’allaq is ‘hanging’. Imam Ibn Hajar Asqalani (RA.) said:
“When one or more narrators are omitted from the beginning of the chain of transmission (Isnad), it is referred to as ‘Mu’allaq.’ Even if all the narrators are omitted, it is still classified as ‘Mu’allaq.’”
7. Mubham (مُبهَمٌ) Hadith
The linguistic meaning of Mubham is ‘unclear’. In the chain of narration of a Hadith, if one of the narrators hasn’t been mentioned, it is called Mubham.
c) Number of Narrators
According to the number of narrators in the chain, Hadiths can be classified into 2 categories.
1. Mutawatir (متواتر ) Hadith
The linguistic meaning of Mutawatir is ‘continuous’. In the science of Hadith, it is defined as:
“A hadith narrated by a large group of people, whose agreement upon a falsehood is impossible, and this large number is present throughout the chain of transmission from beginning to end, is called ‘Mutawatir.’”
In easier terms, in every level of narration, there are a large number of people (no less than four) who have heard and testified about the truth of this Hadith. And this is true all the way up until the Messenger of Allah ﷺ . A classical example of Mutawatir is Hadith of Jibrail.
2. Ahad (أحد) Hadith
A Hadith Ahaad or Khabar Wahid is one which is narrated by people whose number does not reach that of the Mutawatir case. It is further classified as:
- Mash’hur: Which means “Famous”. Hadith which is related by more than two individuals from each generation.
- Aziz: Means Strong. Hadith having only two reporters in its Isnad (Sequence of Reporters).
- Gharib: meaning “Strange”. Saying of Holy Prophet ﷺ with only one narrator in its Isnad (Sequence of Reporters).
d) Soundness of Matn and Isnad
Hadiths can be grouped into the following categories based on the reliability of their Matn (text) and Isnad (chain of narrators).
1. Munkar (منْكَرُ) Hadith:
وَالْمُنْكَرُ الْفَرْدُ بِهِ رَاوٍ غَدَا | تَعْدِيْلُهُ لا يَحْمِلُ التَّفَرُّدَا
Meaning: “Munkar is a person mentioned by a narrator, whose trustworthiness can’t stand alone.”
In simpler terms, in the chain of narration, if there is a person who can’t be proven trustworthy, then the Hadith is called Munkar.
2. Mudraj (مدْرَج) Hadith
A Hadith in which the narrator has added some extra words is known as a Mudraj Hadith.
3. Madallas (مدلس) Hadith
When a narrator omits the name of their actual teacher and uses someone else’s name to make the Hadith seem more credible, it is called a Mudallas Hadith. In some cases, the narrator may mention their teacher but use their lesser-known name. This practice is considered shady and deceptive.
e) Authenticity of Narrators
Based on the authenticity of the narrators, Hadiths are classified into the following categories.
1. Sahih (صحيح ) Hadith
A Sahih Hadith holds the highest standard of reliability. For a Hadith to be classified as Sahih, it must meet five conditions:
- The Isnad is Muttasil: The chain of narration is continuous without any breaks.
- It is not Shaz (شذ): It does not contradict a more reliable Hadith.
- It is not Mu’al: The Hadith is free from hidden defects.
- Narrators are Adil (trustworthy): They are Muslims, of sound mind, mature, free from sinful behaviour, and morally upright.
- Narrators are Dhabit (precise): They can accurately report the Hadith as they heard it, without any alterations.
2. Hasan (حسَنُ) Hadith
The linguistic meaning of Hasan is ‘good’. A Hasan Hadith is defined as:
والحَسَنُ الْمَعْرُوفُ طُرْقاً وَغَدَتْ |رِجَالُهُ لا كَالصَّحِيحِ اشْتَهَرَتْ
Meaning: “’Hasan’ refers to a Hadith whose chain of narration is known and whose narrators are reputable, though not as well-known as the narrators of Sahih Hadith.”
3. Da’if (ضعيف) Hadith
The linguistic meaning of Da’if is ‘weak’. These Hadiths are defined as:
وَكُلُّ ما عَنْ رُتْبَةِ الحُسْنِ قَصُرْ| فَهْوَ الضَّعيفُ وَهْوَ أقْساماً كَثُرْ
Meaning: “And the hadiths that are of a lower grade than Hasan are considered weak (Da’if), and there are many types of them.”
Note: Any Hadith other than Sahih and Hasan are Da’if i.e. weak.
4. Maud’u (موضوع ) Hadith
The linguistic meaning of Maud’u is ‘fabricated’. It is defined as:
وَالْكَذِبُ الْمُخْتَلَقُ الْمَصْنُوعُ | عَلى النَّبيْ فَذَلِكَ الْمَوْضُوعُ
Meaning: “A Hadith fabricated and falsely attributed to the Prophet is considered a lie and is called ‘Mawdu’ (fabricated).”
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Conclusion
Hadiths are a treasure trove of knowledge and guidance, shedding light on the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Learning about their classifications enables us to deepen our connection with Islam and practice it with confidence and clarity.
May Allah guide us to follow the authentic teachings of His Messenger ﷺ and protect us from misguidance. Ameen.
Disclaimer: Most information of this article is taken from “Chapter 1: Introduction to Ulumul Hadith; Darsut Tirmidhi” by Mufti Taqi Usmani.
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