Okuzeka
Religious Studies & Theology vocabulary · Scripture and Interpretation

Hadith

Meaning in religious studies & theology, with examples

/həˈdiːθ/nounCore term

In religious studies & theology, hadith means: A report of the words, actions or approval of the Prophet Muhammad, passed down through a chain of narrators; hadith are a major source of Islamic law and practice.

In Turkish: hadis, hadis rivayeti

How it is used

Used for a single report (a hadith) and for the whole body of reports (the hadith literature). Key terms: isnad (chain of narrators), matn (text), hadith criticism and hadith collections such as Sahih al-Bukhari. Shia collections also include reports from the Imams.

Example sentences

  1. Al-Bukhari's collection is the most respected hadith collection in Sunni Islam.

  2. Scholars examined the chain of narrators to judge whether the hadith was reliable.

Common collocations

  • hadith collection
  • hadith criticism
  • hadith literature
  • narrate a hadith
  • authentic hadith
  • Qur'anThe central sacred text of Islam, which Muslims believe God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in Arabic over about 23 years; it has 114 chapters called suras.
  • IslamA monotheistic religion that began in seventh-century Arabia with the Prophet Muhammad; Muslims regard the Qur'an as God's word and follow practices such as the Five Pillars.
  • SunniBelonging to the largest branch of Islam, followed by most Muslims worldwide, which accepts the first four caliphs as the rightful successors of the Prophet Muhammad.
  • shariaIn Islam, the divine law and guidance for all areas of life, which Muslim jurists interpret through the Qur'an, the sunna and methods of legal reasoning.
  • prophetA person believed by a religious community to have been chosen by God to receive and deliver divine messages to people.

More terms: Scripture and Interpretation

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: