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Compilation of Hadiths
It is a common misconception amongst people that hadiths were collected and
written down after 150 to 200 years of Prophet Muhammad
(SallAllah-u-Alaihi-Wa-Sallam's) death. This misconception has led to people
viewing hadiths suspiciously as they surely can't be authentic as they were
collected much later.
Hadiths were compiled and written down since the time of Prophet Muhammad
(SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam), sahaba (RadiAllahu Tala Anhum) had their own
scrolls or books, with the help of these scrolls and books other hadith books
were compiled later onwards.
At first the Prophet (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) stopped his companions
(RadiAllahu Tala Anhum) from writing down hadiths.
[Sahih Bukhari]
Whatever the reason, then afterwards this was permitted, there is a narration
regarding it but it is dhaeef so we are not writing it.
Prophet of Allah (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) said to Abdullah bin Amr
(RadiAllahu Tala Anho): Write hadiths, I swear by Him who holds my life in
His hand, from this mouth nothing but the truth comes out.
[Abu Dawood, volume 1, pg 158: Sanad is Sahih]
Abdullah bin Amr (RadiAllahu Tala Anho) says: We were seated near prophet of
Allah (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) and were writing, in this manner was asked:
which city will be first conquered, Constinople or Rome?
He (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) said: Hercule's city will be conquered
first.
[Darmi, pg 126: Sanad is Sahih]
Prophet (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) said: Write this hadith and give it to
Abu shah (RadiAllahu Tala Anho)....
[Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim]
Ali (RadiAllahu Tala Anho) says: We don't have anything but Kitab Allah and the
scriptures in which are hadiths of prophet of Allah
(SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam).
[Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim]
Abu Huraira (RadiAllahu Tala Anho) says: Amongst the sahaba (RadiAllahu Tala
Anhum) no one narrates hadiths more than I do save Abdullah bin Amr (RadiAllahu
Tala Anho), because he used to write them and I didn't.
[Sahih Bukhari]
Anas (RadiAllahu Tala Anho) heard a hadith and liked it so much, he told his son
to write it and he wrote it.
[Sahih Muslim, Kitab ul Iman]
Anas (RadiAllahu Tala Anho) says that when Abu Bakr (RadiAllahu Tala Anho) sent
him to Yemen as the governor, he wrote on a scroll and gave it to him whose
content was: Start with Allah 's name who is Rehman and Raheem, this is the
obligation of Zakat which Prophet of Allah (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) has
made on the Muslimeen and this is what Allah ordered His prophet
[Sahih Bukhari, Kitab ul Zakat]
The narrator Hamad bin Salma says: I got this book from Anas (RadiAllahu Tala
Anho) 's grandson Samama.
[Nasai, kitab ul zakat]
Imam Malik says: I read Omar (RadiAllahu Tala Anho) 's book …
[Muwatta Malik, pg 106]
From the above few authentic narrations from many, we can conclude that Hadiths
were being written down since the time of the prophet
(SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam). From such scripts other famous hadiths books
were compiled.
But where are these scrolls or books?
When the hadiths were copied and narrated into other books, it was but logical
that the small compilations get absorbed in bigger compilations.
It is not true that the muhaddiths collected only verbally transmitted hadiths,
and there were no compilations in the earlier times especially the first century
of the hijra.
Old compilations can be found today like Sahifa Hammam, in this are hadiths in
which Imam Hammam bin Munabbi took dictation from Abu Huraira (RadiAllahu Tala
Anho), this compilation is easily available for everyone to view.
So to say that there were no compilations for hadiths till the second century is
just a misconception spread by helpers of shaitan so that people give up
believing in hadiths and interpret Quran according to their desires thus making
a mockery of prophethood which is clear blasphemy. May Allah save us form such a
thought. Ameen.
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