The Hadith
It is our good fortune that every detail of Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S.'s life, his teachings and his mode of prayers, is well and clearly documented. What he said, what he did, what he approved and what he did not like, have been documented with integrity for posterity.
These compilations are available in English translation also.
These versions have since been subjected to intense scrutiny. The most stringent standards of research methodology have been applied to them. And they have been fully certified as true and authentic.
Their integrity is guaranteed. If ever there is a minor variation, it is only due to the ongoing efforts to perfect some more the monumental work that Imam Bukhari initiated and his illustrious successors have perfected and completed.
According to the renowned historian Ibn Khaldun (who died in 1405 C.E.), this collection is known as Al Kuthub al Sith’tha. This is a compilation in six volumes of the Hadith that have been meticulously collected, researched and confirmed for authenticity. Each compilation is named after the respective scholar who compiled it:
The Jaame’i Al Sahih al Bukhari (the compiler died in 869 C.E.)
The Sahih al Muslim (Student of Bukhari, Scholar Muslim died in 874 C.E.)
The Sunan of Sijisthani (Scholar Sijisthani died in 889 C.E.)
The Jaame’i of Thirmidi (Scholar Thirmidi died in 892 C.E.)
The Sunan of Ibn Ma’ja (Scholar Ibn Ma’ja died in 896 C.E.)
The Sunan of Nasaa’i (Scholar Nasaa’i died in 915 C.E.)
Islam is the sum total of Knowledge and Right Action.
We have been exhorted by the Holy Prophet S.A.W.S.:
“It is the duty of every Muslim to seek knowledge."
In every aspect of our religious and worldly lives, we must seek enlightenment and guidance from the Holy Qur'an, the Book of Allah and the Hadith, the record of the life, sayings and deeds of the Holy Prophet Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. S.A.W.S S.A.W.S.lAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam.
All other knowledge, whatever its source and whoever its author, will be acceptable to us only after it has been evaluated and found genuine in the light of these twin standards, the former divine and the latter divinely inspired.
In this way, we will ensure ourselves the right direction, high achievement and enduring prosperity in our lives. We will also earn the approval of Allah and, by His Grace, we will enter the Highest of Heavens as His chosen beings.
One point needs to be stressed. The Muslim Ummah, the Commonwealth of Islam
Abu Haneefa (who died in 150 H. in Baghdad
Malik Ibn Anas. His teachings gained him a wide following in Spain and Africa . He died in 179 H.)
Mohammed Ibn Idris al Shafi (who died in Egypt
Ah’mad Ibn Hambal (who died in 241 H. Imam Bukhari was his student).
They are widely revered as Imams, leaders of the faith. There is absolutely no disparity or conflict between them or their individual interpretations of Hadith and other branches of Islami studies. Theirs are but four roads that lead to the same destination: total loyalty to the Prophet S.A.W.S.’s example.
We are at liberty to follow any school that appeals most to our heart. In fact it is our duty to accept the best from every Imam. The only stipulation is that we should not be opting for the easiest of the teachings among the four Imams’. That is not the way of the grateful servants that we seek to be, of Allah. But we must be on our guard against any ideology or contrived faith that questions the final and most exalted status of Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. S.A.W.S, recorded in the Holy Qur’an, as the Khaathamun Nabee’yeen, the Seal of All the Prophets of Allah.
We cannot share with anyone, howsoever great, the love and devotion we have for Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. S.A.W.S. He came to us as the Rahmathullil A'lameen (his title in the Holy Qur’an). The meaning is that Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. S.A.W.S. is Allah's blessing unto all the beings populating this and all the other worlds (that are, even now, unknown to us).
In our Du’aaa (invocation) after listening to Azaan, the Call for Prayer, we beseech Allahu Rabbul Izzath to kindly grant Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam the Maqaamam Mahmoodah, the high throne below Allah’s.
This would confirm his elevation to the top rank among the Apostles of Allahu Rabbul Aalameen.
Our greatest good fortune is Islam. And Islam is Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. S.A.W.S.'s gift unto us.
There is incontrovertible confirmation in the Holy Qur'an that the Prophet Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. S.A.W.S is the last of the prophets. After him there has been no prophet. And there will be no new prophet in the future.
Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. S.A.W.S has told us very clearly that no prophet would appear after him; nor would revelations (that are from Allah and conveyed through Archangel Jibra’yeel) be received by anyone after him.
The system of "Il'haam", inspiration, would, however, continue. (We accept and honor this, a spiritually uplifting inspiration, from Allah. At the same time, we learn to recognize and reject all the evil motivation and temptation that Shaiy’thaan tries to instill in our subconscious).
Among the signs of the approach of the Day of Judgment, the return is foretold in the Holy Qur'an, of Syedina Eisaa Alaihis Salaam (Jesus A.S. Christ, May the blessings of Allah be on him!)
Prophet Jesus A.S. is blessed and honored in Islam as the predecessor of Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam. We are also informed that he had been bodily raised to heaven and is destined to return to earth with the nearing of the Day of Judgment. As such, his return will not affect the status of finality conferred by Allah on His Chosen Messenger Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. S.A.W.S.
The heart of the Muslim opens only to Allah and His Messenger Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S. S.A.W.S S. And his/her own family joins him/her and theirs is the total loyalty and magnificent devotion to the Creator and His Chosen Prophet S.A.W.S..
The Muslim heart's inspiration, the source of its light, is the Holy Qur'an and the Authentic Hadith.
One lifetime is just enough for us to master these two glorious sources of Knowledge and Guidance.
It is our bounden duty to read them, recite them, learn their meaning and deepen our wisdom with them.
We must also discipline ourselves to lead our lives in total conformity with the teachings of these Holy Books.
In this way we will guarantee ourselves the surest means to success and high achievement and we will, by Allah’s Grace, realize all our dynamic objectives.
