Hadith Terminologies
Types of Hadith Books
Books of Authentic Hadith:
Any book whose author is committed to including authentic narrations and includes “Sahih” (authentic) in the title. The narrations in such a book are considered authentic at least according to the author. Even if the author points out faults in some Hadiths, it does not negate the book’s authenticity.
The Six Authentic Collections (Sihah Sittah):
The six books Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawood, Sunan Nasai, Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, and Sunan Ibn Majah are called “Sihah Sittah” (The Authentic Six). They are also called “Usul Sittah” or “Kutub Sittah.”
The first two books (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) are called “Sahihain” and are not only authentic according to their authors but are held at the highest level of authenticity by the entire Ummah. According to Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlawi (may Allah have mercy on him), anyone who objects to them is opposing the consensus of the Ummah and is innovating.
The last four books (Sunan Abu Dawood, Sunan Nasai, Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, and Sunan Ibn Majah) are called “Sunan Arba‘ah.” Though they contain some weak Hadiths, due to the abundance of authentic narrations, most scholars include them in the “Sihah Sittah.”
The first two books (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) are called “Sahihain” and are not only authentic according to their authors but are held at the highest level of authenticity by the entire Ummah. According to Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlawi (may Allah have mercy on him), anyone who objects to them is opposing the consensus of the Ummah and is innovating.
The last four books (Sunan Abu Dawood, Sunan Nasai, Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, and Sunan Ibn Majah) are called “Sunan Arba‘ah.” Though they contain some weak Hadiths, due to the abundance of authentic narrations, most scholars include them in the “Sihah Sittah.”
Jami‘ (Comprehensive Hadith Book Covering All Topics):
A book in which Hadiths related to all Islamic topics such as beliefs, rulings, tafsir, Paradise, Hellfire, etc., are narrated, e.g., Sahih Bukhari and Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi.
Sunan (Hadiths Arranged by Legal Chapters):
A book in which only Hadiths related to practical rulings are collected and organized according to jurisprudential chapters, e.g., Sunan Abu Dawood.
Musnad (Hadiths Arranged by Narrators):
A book in which narrations of one or multiple companions are collected separately, e.g., Musnad Ahmad, Musnad Hamidi.
Mustakhraj (Hadiths with Independent Chains by Later Scholars):
A book in which the author narrates Hadiths from another book using his own chains, e.g., Mustakhraj Asma‘ili ‘ala Sahih Bukhari.
Mustadrak (Hadiths Missed by Earlier Scholars but Meeting Their Criteria):
A book in which the author collects narrations that meet the conditions of another author but are not found in that author’s book, e.g., Mustadrak Hakim.
Mu‘jam (Hadiths Arranged Alphabetically by Narrators):
A book in which the author collects the narrations of each of his teachers separately in a specific order, for example: Mu‘jam Tabarani.
Arba‘in (Collections of Forty Hadiths):
A book in which forty Hadiths are collected on one or various topics, for example: Arba‘in Nawawi, Arba‘in Thanai, etc.
Juz’ (Small Hadith Compilation on a Specific Topic):
A book in which narrations of only one narrator or on one subject are collected, such as Imam Bukhari’s “Juz’ Raf‘ al-Yadain” and “Juz’ al-Qira’ah Khalf al-Imam” or Imam Bayhaqi’s “Kitab al-Qira’ah Khalf al-Imam,” etc.
