A Comparison of Hadith Bukhari and Hadith Nawawi • Alif Arabic

The hadiths represent the sayings, and actions, the prophet’s companions memorized all his teachings and passed them along the years to their students.

Many of the companions wrote some of the hadiths in their collections, passing it to their students, and their students passed it to their students, and so on. Two of the most authentic and reliable hadiths are Hadith Bukhari and Hadith Nawawi which we will learn about in this article.

If you want to understand what is hadith, why is it important in our lives, and learn about Imam Bukhari and Imam Nawawi then let’s get started.

What Hadith is?

The second source in Islam is the hadith and teaching of the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). While the first source is the holy Quran, which is the word of Allah revealed to our beloved prophet.

Hadith represents the prophet’s teachings, actions, and sayings, which were memorized and passed down by the prophet’s companions. The prophet’s teachings are known as the Sunnah.

Importance of Hadith in Islamic Tradition.

Hadith is the second source of Islam from which we learn and understand the teachings of the prophet. Allah sent our beloved prophet to us to guide us and learn from us. Allah instructed us in the holy Quran to follow the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him), and we can see that in the following verses:

“And Whatever the Messenger gives you, accept it, and from whatever he forbids you, abstain from it” [Quran 59: 7].

“Say: If you love Allah then follow me and Allah will love you and forgive your sins” [Quran 3: 31)]

“Whoever obeys the messenger has obeyed Allah” [Quran 4: 80].

“O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. If you differ in anything, then refer it to Allah and His Messenger if you believe in Allah and the last day; that is better and the best interpretation” [Quran 4: 59].

From the prophet’s teachings, we learn how to deal with any problem that occurs or any disputations. The prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) is the one we look up to and seek to learn from and follow. Allah says in the Holy Quran:

“And We have revealed unto thee the Remembrance that thou mayst explain to mankind that which hath been revealed for them, and that haply they may reflect.” [An-Nahl 16:44]

“And We have revealed the Scripture unto thee only that thou mayst explain unto them that wherein they differ, and (as) a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.” [An-Nahl 16:64]

One importance of hadith is that it clarifies and explains the Holy Quran and the matters we fail to understand on our own.

Without the hadiths we wouldn’t be able to learn how to pray, fast, make pilgrimages, give out Zakah, and understand the importance of fasting, praying, and helping one another. From the collection of hadith that were collected, like the Hadith Bukhari and Hadith Nawawi, we learn about the acts of worship.

From the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) we learn many lessons, even regarding social life and how to act with each other. Allah says in the holy Quran:

“But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction.” [An-Nisaa’ 4:65].

“So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires, but beware of them lest they seduce thee from some part of that which Allah hath revealed unto thee. And if they turn away, then know that Allah’s Will is to smite them for some sin of theirs. Lo! Many of mankind are evil livers.” [Al-Ma’idah 5:48]

To be better Muslims we should look up to the prophet and learn from his teachings, and we can only do that with the hadith.

Explanation of Hadith Bukhari and Hadith Nawawi

Here are some of the Hadith Nawawi mentioned in his books:

It is narrated on the authority of Amir al-Mu’minin (Leader of the Believers), Abu Hafs ‘Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), say: “Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended. Whoever migrates with an intention for Allah and His messenger, migration will be for the sake of Allah and his Messenger. And whoever migrates for worldly gain or to marry a woman, then his migration will be for the sake of whatever he migrated for.”

The above hadith is to show that actions are by intentions.

On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say, “Allah the Almighty has said: ‘O Son of Adam, as long as you invoke Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O Son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and you then asked forgiveness from Me, I would forgive you. O Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the Earth, and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it [too].’ ” It was related by at-Tirmidhi, who said that it was a hasan hadeeth.” This hadith shows The Expanse of the Forgiveness of Allah.

Here are some of the Hadith Bukhari mentioned in his books:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, ‘Beware of suspicion, for it is the worst of false tales and don’t look for the other’s faults and don’t spy and don’t hate each other, and don’t desert (cut your relations with) one another O Allah’s slaves, be brothers!”

Narrated Talha bin ‘Ubaidullah:

“A bedouin with unkempt hair came to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards the prayers.” He replied: “You have to offer perfectly the five compulsory prayers in a day and night (24 hours), unless you want to pray Nawafil.” The bedouin further asked, “Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards fasting.” He replied, “You have to fast during the whole month of Ramadan unless you want to fast more as Nawafil.” The bedouin further asked, “Tell me how much Zakat Allah has enjoined on me.” Thus, Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) informed him about all the rules (i.e. fundamentals) of Islam. The bedouin then said, “By Him Who has honored you, I will neither perform any Nawafil nor will I decrease what Allah has enjoined on me. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “If he is saying the truth, he will succeed (or he will be granted Paradise).”

Biography of Imam Bukhari

Imam Bukhari full name is Abu Abdullah Mohammad Ibn Ismail ibn Ibrahim ibn Mughirah ibn Bardizbah Al Jufi Al Bukhari. He was born in Bukhara Uzbekistan in the year 194 Hijri (809 AD) and has a Persian origin. He was born during the time of the Caliph Mohammad bin Harun-ur-Rashid. Imam Bukhari’s father died at an early age and he was raised by his mother.

From a young age, he liked learning and acquiring knowledge, he even memorized the whole Quran in one year when he was only six years old. When he was around 10 years old, he gained an interest in learning hadith and started to memorize them.

Imam Bukhari had a photographic memory which means that he only needs to read a book once and he will memorize it all. He memorized all the major compilations of hadiths found at Bukhara when he was 16.

He went to Hajj with his mother and brother around 210 Hijri. At that time Makkah was the best place to acquire knowledge, thus he decided to stay in Makkah. He stayed in Makkah, Madina, and Hijaj for 6 years learning and memorizing hadiths from the scholars.

When he was 18, he wrote his first book called Science of Men (Ilm-ul-Rijal). He traveled to many countries like Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Harat, and Damascus to learn more about hadith from scholars.

He became one of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s students, he also studied under Abu Bakr ibn Abdullah, Yahya Ibn Moyeen, and Mohammad Ibn Rafi. Imam Bukhari became a master of Hadith at the age of 18.

Overview of Sahih Bukhari

Sahih Bukhari is a collection of hadiths collected by Abu Abdullah Mohammad Ibn Ismail ibn Ibrahim ibn Mughirah ibn Bardizbah Al Jufi Al Bukhari. Sahih Bukhari is one of the authentic collections of the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him).

The book contains a total of 7563 repetitions and 2500 hadith with no duplication. Sahih Bukhari consists of 9 volumes and is divided into several books. It includes thousands of hadiths.

Here are the names of 99 CHAPTERS.

THE BOOK OF REVELATION
THE BOOK OF BELIEF (FAITH)
THE BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE
THE BOOK OF WUDU (ABLUTION)
THE BOOK OF GHUSL (WASHING OF THE WHOLE BODY)
THE BOOK OF MENSES (MENSTRUAL PERIODS)
THE BOOK OF TAYAMMUM (RUBBING HANDS AND FEET WITH DUST)
THE BOOK OF AS-SALAT (THE PRAYER)
THE BOOK OF THE TIMES OF AS-SALAT (THE PRAYERS) AND ITS SUPERIORITY
THE BOOK OF ADHAN
THE BOOK OF ADHAN (SUFA-TUS-SALAT)
THE BOOK OF AL-JUMMAH (FRIDAY)
THE BOOK OF SALAT-UL-KHAUF (FEAR PRAYER)
THE BOOK OF THE TWO EID (PRAYERS AND FESTIVALS)
THE BOOK OF WITR
THE BOOK OF AL-ISTISQA
THE BOOK OF THE ECLIPSES
THE BOOK OF PROSTRATION DURING THE RECITATION OF THE QURAN
THE BOOK OF ABRIDGED OR SHORTENED PRAYERS (AT-TAQSIR)
THE BOOK OF SALAT-UT-TAHAJJUD (NIGHT PRAYER)
THE BOOK OF THE SUPERIORITY OF OFFERING AS-SALAT IN THE MOSQUE OF MAKKAH AND AL-MADINA
THE BOOK OF DEALING WITH ACTIONS IN AS-SALAT (THE PRAYER)
THE BOOK OF AS-SAHW (FORGETTING)
THE BOOK OF AL-JANAIZ (FUNERALS)
THE BOOK OF ZAKAT
THE BOOK OF HAJJ
THE BOOK OF AL-UMRA
THE BOOK OF AL-MUHSAR
THE BOOK OF PENALTY FOR HUNTING
THE BOOK ABOUT THE VIRTUES OF AL-MADINA
THE BOOK OF AS-SAUM (THE FASTING)
THE BOOK OF TARAWIH PRAYERS
THE BOOK OF SUPERIORITY OF THE NIGHT OF QADR
THE BOOK OF ITIKAF
THE BOOK OF SALES (BARGAINS)
THE BOOK OF AS-SALAM
THE BOOK OF PRE- EMPTION
THE BOOK OF HIRING
THE BOOK OF AL-HAWALAT
THE BOOK OF AL-KAFALA
THE BOOK OF REPRESENTATION
THE BOOK OF CULTIVATION AND AGRICULTURE
THE BOOK OF WATERING
THE BOOK OF LOANS, FREEZING OF PROPERTY, AND BANKRUPTCY
THE BOOK OF QUARRELS
THE BOOK OF AL-LUQATA
THE BOOK OF AL-MAZALIM
THE BOOK OF PARTNERSHIP
THE BOOK OF MORTGAGING IN PLACES OCCUPIED BY SETTLED POPULATION
THE BOOK OF MANUMISSION (OF SLAVES)
THE BOOK OF AL-MUKATAB
THE BOOK OF GIFTS AND THE SUPERIORITY OF GIVING GIFTS AND THE EXHORTATION FOR GIVING GIFTS
THE BOOK OF WITNESSES
THE BOOK OF PEACEMAKING
THE BOOK OF CONDITIONS
THE BOOK OF WASAYA (WILLS AND TESTAMENTS)
THE BOOK OF JIHAD (FIGHTING FOR ALLAH’S CAUSE)
THE BOOK OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF KHUMUS
THE BOOK OF AL-JIZYA AND THE STOPPAGE OF WAR
THE BOOK OF THE BEGINNING OF CREATION
THE BOOK OF THE STORIES OF THE PROPHETS
THE BOOK OF VIRTUES
THE VIRTUES AND MERITS OF THE COMPANIONS OF THE PROPHET
THE MERITS OF AL-ANSAR
THE BOOK OF AL- MAGHAZI
THE BOOK OF COMMENTARY
THE BOOK OF THE VIRTUES OF THE QURAN
THE BOOK OF (THE WEDLOCK)
THE BOOK OF DIVORCE
THE BOOK OF PROVISION (OUTLAY)
THE BOOK OF FOODS (MEALS)
THE BOOK OF AL-AQIQA
THE BOOK OF SLAUGHTERING AND HUNTING
THE BOOK OF AL-ADAHI
THE BOOK OF DRINKS
THE BOOK OF PATIENTS
THE BOOK OF MEDICINE
THE BOOK OF DRESS
THE BOOK OF AL-ADAB (GOOD MANNERS)
THE BOOK OF ASKING PERMISSION
The BOOK OF INVOCATIONS
THE BOOK OF AR-RIQAQ (SOFTENING OF THE HEARTS)
THE BOOK OF AL-QADAR (DIVINE PREORDAINMENT)
THE BOOK OF OATHS AND VOWS
THE BOOK OF THE EXPIATION OF UNFULFILLED OATHS
THE BOOK OF AL-FARAD (THE LAWS OF INHERITANCE)
THE BOOK OF AL-HUDUD
THE BOOK OF AL-MAHARBEEN
THE BOOK OF AD-DIYAIT (BLOOD – MONEY)
THE BOOK OF OBLIGING THE APOSTATES AND THE REPENTANCE OF THOSE WHO REFUSE THE TRUTH OBSTINATELY, AND TO FIGHT AGAINST SUCH PEOPLE (HADITH 6918-6939)
THE BOOK OF AL-IKRAH (COERCION) (HADITH 6940-6952)
THE BOOK OF TRICKS (HADITH 6953-6981)
THE BOOK OF THE INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS (HADITH 6982-7047)
THE BOOK OF AL-FITAN (HADITH 7048-7136)
THE BOOK OF AL-AHKAM (JUDGEMENTS) (HADITH 7137-7225)
THE BOOK OF WISHES (HADITH 7226-7245)
THE BOOK ABOUT THE INFORMATION GIVEN BY ONE PERSON (HADITH 7246-7267)
THE BOOK OF HOLDING FAST TO THE QUR’AN AND THE SUNNA (HADITH 7268-7370)
THE BOOK OF TAUHID (ISLAMIC MONOTHEISM) (HADITH 7371-7563)

How the Hadiths in Bukhari’s collection were compiled?

The Imam Bukhari traveled to many countries like Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Harat, and Damascus. And he learned from the biggest scholars including Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal students, Abu Bakr ibn Abdullah, Yahya Ibn Moyeen, and Mohammad Ibn Rafi.

Imam Bukhari collected the Hadith Bukhari over the years. He only collected the hadiths that he saw trustworthy and authentic. All the hadiths he added to his collection are authentic as he made sure of the chain of narrators. Here are the conditions he made:

All narrators in the chain must be just.
All narrators in the chain must possess strong memory and all the Muhadditheen who possess great knowledge of hadith must agree upon the narrators’ ability to learn and memorize, along with their reporting techniques.
The chain must be complete without any missing narrators.
It must be known that consecutive narrators in the chain met each other

Biography of Imam Nawawi.

Imam an-Nawawi full name is Abu Zakaria Yahya Ibn Sharaf al-Nawawī. He was born in the month of Muharram 631 AH (1233 AD) in Nawa Village, near the capital city of Damascus, Syria. He came from a modest family that isn’t well known.

Imam An-Nawawi lived in Nawa Village until the age of 18. Then he traveled to the center of learning at that time which is Damascus. In Damascus, there were more than three hundred institutes, colleges, and universities.

Imam Nawawi studied Hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, and principles from many of the great scholars like Ishaq ibn Ahmad al Maghrabi Al-Maqdisi, Abdul Rahmaan Al-Anbari, and Abdul Azeez Al-Ansaari. And he studied Sahih Muslim from Abu Ishaq Ibraaheem Al-Waasiti.

Imam Nawawi studied at Madrasah Saaramiya School, Madrasah Rawahiyah and Daar-ul-Hadits. Then he started teaching when he was 24 years old at the school of Ashrafiyah. He performed Hajj in the year 1253 AD.

Imam al-Nawawi, said:

“I would write down anything they mentioned related to the explanation of problematic words or expressions and correction of the texts and of expressions. Thus, Allah (Exalted is He) blessed me in my time. Then, the thought occurred to me to busy myself with the science of medicine. So I would busy myself with the book al-Qanun. However, my heart became dark, and I spent days without being able to dedicate any time to it. So [I] had pity on myself and sold al-Qanun and my heart became, again, illuminated.”

Throughout his life, he only pursued knowledge and learning. He spent all his time learning and teaching. Sleeping was the last thing he thought about. It’s said that he wouldn’t sleep unless it overtakes him and he would sleep on the book he’s reading for a little time then he wakes and continues studying. He even said:

“I spent two years without lying on the ground [to sleep] on my side”

Al-Qutb Al-Yauneeni said about him: “He would not waste any moment of the day or night but he would spend it busy with attaining knowledge. Even when he is walking in the streets, he will be busy going over what he has remembered and reviewing his notes. He continued gaining knowledge in that way for a period of six years.”

Imam Nawawi wrote many books all of which are well-known scientific works. Some of those many books include:

In hadith : Arba’in, Riyadhush Shalihin, Al-Minhaj (Sharh of Shahih Muslim), At-Taqrib wat Taysir fi Ma’rifat Sunan Al-Basyirin Nadzir.
In jurisprudence: Minhajuth Thalibin, Raudhatuth Thalibin, Al-Majmu’.
In language: Tahdzibul Asma’ wal Lughat.
In manners and etiquette: At-Tibyan fi Adab Hamalatil Qur’an, Bustanul Arifin, Al-Adzkar.

One of the most famous books he wrote is The 40 Nawawi hadiths. He wrote in the introduction of the book: “Everyone desiring the Hereafter ought to know these hadiths for what they contain important information and because they alert one to all acts of obedience [to Allah], which is clear to whoever reflects upon it.”

Imam Nawawi was a pious, modest, and self-contented man who chose to spend his life learning, teaching, and worshipping Allah. he encouraged people to do good deeds and tried to prevent them from doing what is wrong.

Overview of Riyad as-Salihin.

Riyad as-Salihin is a collection of Hadith Nawawi that was collected by Imam Yahya ibn Sharaf an-Nawawi. It’s one of the most known hadith books around the world with more than 1,900 hadiths that were chosen carefully after ensuring that they are authentic.

The book includes hadiths regarding different topics like ethics, manners, worship, and knowledge. It’s a great book to read and learn from for all levels.

Riyad as-Salihin is called Meadows of the Righteous or The Gardens of the Righteous. The book is divided into 344 and most of the hadiths are introduced by verses from the Quran. here are the sections of the book, each section represents a subject matter:

The Book of Miscellany
The Book of Good Manners,
The Book about the Etiquette of Eating
The Book of Dress
The Book of the Etiquette of Sleeping, Lying, and Sitting..etc
The Book of Greetings
The Book of Visiting the Sick
The Book of Etiquette of Travelling
The Book of Virtues
The Book of I’tikaf
The Book of Hajj
The Book of Jihad
The Book of Knowledge
The Book of Praise and Gratitude to Allāh
The Book of Supplicating Allāh to Exalt the Mention of Allāh’s Messenger
The Book of the Remembrance of Allāh
The Book of Du’a (Supplications)
The Book of the Prohibited Actions
The Book of Miscellaneous aḥadīth of Significant Values
The Book of (asking) Forgiveness

How the Hadiths in Nawawi’s collection were compiled?

Ibn al-’Attar said about Imam Nawawi,

“Our sheikh (may Allah have mercy upon him) mentioned to me that he would not waste any time of the day or of the night, not even while traveling. He perpetuated in that state for six years. Then he began to write, teach, counsel people, and speak the truth.

“I say, despite his struggle against his soul, he acted upon the finer points of caution, was vigilant, purified his soul of evil inclinations, and destroyed its ulterior motives.

“He would also memorize hadiths with the issues to which they pertained and their narrators, of which were sahih and of which were defective. Furthermore, he was the leading scholar in the knowledge of the (Shāfiʿī) madhhab.”

The hadith Nawawi mostly are introduced by verses from the holy Quran. he wrote hadiths regarding Islamic morals, acts of worship, and manners. He made sure that all the Hadith Nawawi collected in his books are authentic or at least acceptable. In his famous book 40 Nawawi hadiths, he made sure that all the hadiths are short and cover all life matters to make it easy to understand and memorize.

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