Collection and Compilation After the death Of Holy Prophet (s)

After the Death of Holy Prophet , Islam began to rapidly spread. Many new converts
wanted to know about the Prophet (PBUH) from his (PBUH) companions and other
followers. The companions were the best authority for Knowledge of the sayings and
doings of the Prophet (PBUH). Abu Hurairah, Abudullah bin Abbas, Abdullah bin
Umar, Anas bin Malik are some well-known authorities of the Hadithss. Even the
wives of the Prophet (PBUH) were contributors of the Hadithss such as bibi Aisha,
bibi Hafsa, bibi umm-e- Habibah , bibi Maimunah and bibi Umme-e-Salamah . The
Hadithss is considered an authentic book for Islamic jurisprudence after the Quran.
Each Hadiths consists of two parts: the tradition (sayings or doing of the Prophet
PBUH) and the isnad (chain of authorities). The isnad indicates the human
transmitters through which the tradition was relayed
The Age of Companion (11-100 AH): During the period of Caliph Umar most of
the earliest traditions were ordered by him to be compiled so that all future Muslim
generations would know about the sayings and doings of the Prophet (PBUH) in
stark detail. Although most of these early traditions were not written as written in
Arabia at the time was not common, yet the Arabs possessed tremendous
memorization capabilities which were told as stories from generation to generation
virtually as it was told by original sources. It was reported that Jabir bin Abdullah
travelled from Makkah to Syria to hear a single Hadiths. Similarly there were many
companions who undertook long journeys to verify or hear sayings of Holy Prophet
(PBUH). The important works of that period were:
1: The works of Shihab Al Zuheri.
2: Collection of Abu Bakr Al Hazim
The Age of followers of the Companions (101-200 AH): This is the age of
followers of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH). The outstanding works of this
period were carried out by:

Al Muwatta by Imam Malik

Al-Athar by Imam Abu Hanifa
Al-Musanaf by Imam Razzak
Masnad Ahmed bin Hambal by Imam Ahmed Hanbal

The Hanafi and Maliki School of Islamic thought were formed during this period in
the light of the Hadiths. Abu Hanifa founded the school of deduction or Qiyas. By
the end of 2nd Century Imam Shafi and Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal were also
mainstream schools of thought.
Age of followers of the followers (200-300 AH): This is Golden age of
Traditions. The six authentic books of traditions were written. These are considered
the most authentic and reliable books of traditions.

(1) Sahih Bukhari: Written Imam al-Bukhari (195-256 AH). It took 40 years for
compilation of this collection. His Sahih is next to the Quran in authenticity. He
selected nearly 7275 out of 600,000 traditions. He accepted only reliable traditions.
He included the longest chains of narrations only that was passed down through the
centuries.
(2) Sahih Muslim: written by Imam Muslim (304-216 A.H). He travelled many
places to learn the Hadiths. His Sahih consist of 9200 traditions selected out of
300,000. It is considered next to Bukhari in authentication. Any tradition accepted
by both Bukahri and Muslim are highly acceptable to Muslims.
(3) Sunan of Abu Daud: Abu Daud wrote it during 202-275 AH. He travelled to all
important centers of traditions. It consists of 4800 traditions selected out of 500,000
and it took him 20 years to complete his book.
(4) Al-Tirmidhi: written by al-Tirmidhi during 209-279 AH. He was first scholar to
determine the names, surnames and titles of narrators of traditions in startling
detail.
(5) Sunan of Nisai: was written by Abdur Rahman during 214-303 AH. His traditions
are not considered strong to make it authentic as it contains weak traditions with
virtually very low referencing system. (6) Sunan of ibn Majah: written by
Mohammad Ibn Majah during 209-273.AH. This Hadiths is also considered as weak
in terms of referencing chains to authenticate a tradition.

The Quran and the Hadiths are interconnected. The Quran only gives us a brief view
of a certain instruction, but it is from the Sunnah we are able to understand the true
meanings and interpretations of the Quran. Prayer or Salah is the most important
worship ritual in Islam. The Quran does not tell us how we should perform Salah or
how we should recite the quran therefore we rely on the Sunnah and the Hadiths on
the questions of the timings, the form, and the recitations in the Prayer. The Quran
only refers to these things. It does not detail them. Same is the case with the other
worship rituals, social affairs, economic issues, political matters, and penal codes.