How Can I Know If a Hadith is Authentic (Sahih) or Not?
Question:
How can I know if a Hadith is authentic (Sahih) or not?
Answer:
For a Hadith to be considered reasonably reliable two criteria need to be fulfilled:
1. Rijal (narrators) Criteria:
Here every narrator of a Hadith will be looked at and checked based on the books of Rijal to make sure they are all reliable. It is also important to make sure that there is no Inqita' (cut) in the chain of narrators, meaning there should be a continuous flow of transmission in the chain of narrators where every one who narrates has met the one who he/she is narrating from and the one to whom he/she is narrating to.
2. Diraya (content) Criteria:
Here the text of the Hadith will be looked at to make sure it is inline with the Qur'an and is not against any known facts.
Beside the above all the versions of a Hadith need to be looked at to find the most reliable versions and also to be able to achieve a more complete picture.
Also any Hadith needs to be understood in the light of the guidance provided by the Qur'an.
Obviously applying the above two criteria needs training and experience in order to develop enough skills and insights. If the person knows Arabic then he can use the books of Rijal, however he will need some experience and knowledge to be able to find the narrators, study them and judge whether they are reliable and whether they are all connected. The second criteria needs a reasonable knowledge of the Qur'an, its interpretation and its role as the primary source of understanding Islam. If a person is generally aware of the content of the Qur'an it should not be that difficult for him/her to realize when a Hadith is strongly against the Qur'an. More delicate inconsistencies may need more knowledge and skills.
Please do let me know if I can provide any further information with this regard.
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May 2013
How can I know if a Hadith is authentic (Sahih) or not?
Answer:
For a Hadith to be considered reasonably reliable two criteria need to be fulfilled:
1. Rijal (narrators) Criteria:
Here every narrator of a Hadith will be looked at and checked based on the books of Rijal to make sure they are all reliable. It is also important to make sure that there is no Inqita' (cut) in the chain of narrators, meaning there should be a continuous flow of transmission in the chain of narrators where every one who narrates has met the one who he/she is narrating from and the one to whom he/she is narrating to.
2. Diraya (content) Criteria:
Here the text of the Hadith will be looked at to make sure it is inline with the Qur'an and is not against any known facts.
Beside the above all the versions of a Hadith need to be looked at to find the most reliable versions and also to be able to achieve a more complete picture.
Also any Hadith needs to be understood in the light of the guidance provided by the Qur'an.
Obviously applying the above two criteria needs training and experience in order to develop enough skills and insights. If the person knows Arabic then he can use the books of Rijal, however he will need some experience and knowledge to be able to find the narrators, study them and judge whether they are reliable and whether they are all connected. The second criteria needs a reasonable knowledge of the Qur'an, its interpretation and its role as the primary source of understanding Islam. If a person is generally aware of the content of the Qur'an it should not be that difficult for him/her to realize when a Hadith is strongly against the Qur'an. More delicate inconsistencies may need more knowledge and skills.
Please do let me know if I can provide any further information with this regard.
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May 2013