This thread will help explain what hadith are and their purpose, how Muslims and scholars view them, and their level of authenticity #Hadith #TrueIslam
** Note: Any possible errors in this are my own and I apologize in advance ** #Hadith #TrueIslam

My main reference source is "Seal of the Prophets: Volume 1" by Mirza Bashir Ahmad (Allah be pleased with him). https://www.alislam.org/book/life-character-seal-prophets-vol-1/
The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets(sa) – Volume I

https://www.alislam.org/book/life-character-seal-prophets-vol-1/
Hadith are simply the sayings or words of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) of Islam as heard by others who were either his companions or someone who heard it from a chain of people and their narrations who had eventually heard it from the Prophet (pbuh) himself. #Hadith #TrueIslam
Most of these sayings were committed to memory and verbally passed on, but some were committed to writing.
There are multiple forms where these are preserved, such as hadith (collection of sayings) or sirat (biography of the Prophet (pbuh)). #Hadith #TrueIslam
Multiple Scholars of the time 100-150 years after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) compiled hadith. They were ranked in terms of authenticity by these scholars using two main principles, riwayat or external testimonies, and Dirayat, investigation. #Hadith #TrueIslam
Principle of riwayat had guidelines like:

1. Narrator should be well-known
2. Narrator should be truthful
3. Narrator should have sound memory
etc. #Hadith #TrueIslam (Ahmad, pg 14)
Principle of dirayat had guidelines like:

1. No contradictions against historical record
2. Follows logic
3. Should not negate proven facts or natural laws.
etc #Hadith #TrueIslam (Ahmad, pg 15)
The two above principles are based off the teachings of the Holy Quran:

"If a person brings you any news, ascertain the character of the one who brings it. If then, his narrator is unworthy of reliance, analyse every aspect before drawing conclusions (49:7)" #Hadith #TrueIslam
Both testimonials and investigation are mutually important in Islam when distinguishing authenticity and historical accuracy. But the Holy Quran has the highest authenticity above the accuracy of Hadith, because it is the preserved revelations of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Per hadith:

"A reason sufficient to determine an individual's dishonesty is that he begins forwarding the narrations he hears without investigation" Sahih Muslim, Babun-Nahiyi, anil-hadithi bikulli ma Samia, hadith #7 #Hadith #TrueIslam (Ahmad, pg 17)
This means if you repeat what someone says, and it is a lie, and you did not investigate, you are as much responsible for that lie, as the one who uttered it. From the beginning when scholars compiled hadith, they were aware of this and they created a method. #Hadith #TrueIslam
The method is based on the two principles of riwayat and dirayat that I have mentioned.

How and what?

1. There is a fundamental difference between sirat (biography) and hadith of the Prophet (pbuh) and it has to do with their individual purposes. #Hadith #TrueIslam
"in the likeness of an intellectual research scholar, they would either ease their standard or would make it more stringent, based on the purpose for which the narration was required. (Ahmad, pg 28)"
#Hadith #TrueIslam
- rigid criteria for religious tenants and morality
- less rigid for sirat n history

Allamah Ali bin Burhan-ud-Din Halabi writes, "The matter is not hidden from anyone that narrations of sirat are composed of Sahih, Da'if, Mursal, Munqati" #Hadith #TrueIslam

(Ahmad, pg 28-29)
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal further writes, "Our custom is that when we present a narration in regards to lawful and unlawful issues, we investigate it with great scrutiny. But in the matters of Fada'il and Sirat, we soften our requirements." (Ahmad, pg 29) #Hadith #TrueIslam
Basically,

1) The safeguarding of the moral foundation is more important so all hadith related to it are highly accurate.

2.) History and biographies only require information to be there for historical record keeping so that it can be studied in its entirety. #Hadith #TrueIslam
Muslim scholars wrote various books in order to rank hadith from weak to strong.

1. Ilm-e-Usul-e-Hadith discussing principles of riwayat and dirayat and when and where to use them.

2. Asma-ur-Rijaal, critique of all of the narrator's personal credibility. #Hadith #TrueIslam
3. Ilm-e-Mustalihat-e-hadith discusses categories for ranking of hadith and the purpose behind each category.

Conclusion: Hadith being less authentic than the Quran needed a scientific method to be useful for the purposes of authenticity. #Hadith #TrueIslam

(Ahmad, pg 31-33)
Those who say why are Muslims cherry-picking hadith are ignorant of the science of hadith that I have just mentioned. Its not personal bias, its seeking out the truth for the sake of justice. #Hadith #TrueIslam
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