The Etiquette of Learning Hadith

The Etiquette of Studying Hadith

These are the etiquettes necessary for a student of Hadith to be endowed with. Indeed, the means of the path in attaining this beautiful, blessed knowledge has become clear for him [the student].

That which should be achieved is summarised [as follows]:

1. For the student to make sincere intention for (the sake of) Allah-Blessed and Exalted is He-in seeking this knowledge

2. To not seek this knowledge for the sake of this world

3. To be endowed with excellent disposition

4. To strive in seeking this knowledge

5. To advance gradually (step by step) in studying this knowledge and to exercise patience, and it is incumbent to prepare beforehand by taking heed to the [following] books: Al-Muwwaṭa by Imām Mālik, then the Ṣaḥīḥayn (Bukhārī and Muslim) Sunan Abī Dawūd, then Tirmidhī, then Nasā'i, then Ibn Mājah.

6. To commence the study of this knowledge with the shuyūkh of one’s community, to start with listening to their chains of narration and for one to favour their knowledge, reputation and deen, as well as attend their gatherings frequently.

7. To emigrate in seeking this knowledge when attaining it is not possible [in one’s country]

8. To not follow ahādīth that are gharīb (strange) or munkar (rejected) or mawḍū’ (fabricated)

9. One memorises ahādīth gradually, little by little, so that precision becomes his nature and that he does mudhākara of what he memorised, for indeed mudhākara is the strongest of causes for gratification.

10. To take importance in the pronunciation (tajwīd) of the ahādīth, for it is one of the senses of speech, of the Arabic language, and of the eloquence of the speaker. These meanings are collected in the words of the Prophet ﷺ. So whoever spoke his words, he must take into account whatever he ﷺ said.

11. To aspire to act upon what one heard and read from the Prophetic ahādīth and noble traditions.

12. That he and his classmates support one another, and he is intent on giving sincere advice and offering benefits.

13. To respect and revere the muhaddith and whoever he has heard from, for indeed that is from the splendour of knowledge.

The Most Important Books in this Subject:

1. “Al-Jāmi’ Li Akhlāq Al-Rāwī Wa Ādāb Al-Sāmi’” Authored by Ḥāfiẓ Khaṭīb Al-Baghdādi Abu Bakr Aḥmad Ibn ‘Alī Ibn Thābit (d. 463)

2. “Tadhkirah Al-Sāmi’ Wa Al-Mutakallim Fi Adab Al-’Ālimi Wa Al-Muta'allim” By Qāḍī Ibn Jamā'ah Baddaruddin Muḥammad Ibn Ibrāhīm Al-Kināni (d. 733)

3. “Naṣā'iḥ Manhajiyyah Li Ṭālib ‘Ilm Al-Sunnah Al-Nabawiyyah” By Shaykh Ḥātim Ibn ‘Ārif Al-’Awni HA

4. “Al-Manhaj Al-Mufīd Li Ṭalab Al-’Ilm Al-Ḥadīth” By the author himself, Shaykh ‘Abdul Mājid Al-Ghawri HA

Etiquettes of Writing Hadith

There are important etiquettes for writing the prophetic hadith, which the student of hadith should adhere to. They are [as follows]:

1. The student of hadith must have accuracy and precision in whatever he writes. The reason is that the text of ahadīth are the words of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and changing it will lead to that which the Prophet ﷺ didn’t say. The ruling from the legal rulings is established through it without any change. Many names of the narrators have been found in the chains of hadith, which are not included by analogy, nor can they be used as an inference by the context of the speech or meaning which is indicated by the word. Therefore, the student of hadith must have excellent precision.

2. The student should write down what is unclear to him in the hadith because the precision of everything is difficult. Some of it will have no benefit in it, thus one should not toil with restricting the apparent which is not in danger of becoming obscure. Amongst the most important things that the student of hadith should pay attention to are: the names of the foreign countries, Arab tribes, and the names of the people, because they are unwritten, and there is no place of entry in them for meaning or reason.

3. It is preferable that the handwriting of the student should be verified. [One should avoid guessing] the correct wording without any proper excuse.

4. The student should not acquire terminology that is not known to others. He should use [such terms that align] with the common understanding of the people.

5. It is preferable for the student of hadith, when he passes by [in writing] the mention of Allāh the Exalted, that he write “‘Azzawajal” (the Almighty) or “Ta’āla” (Exalted is He) or “Subḥānahu wa Ta’āla” (Glorified and Exalted is He) or “Tabāraka wa Ta’āla” (Blessed and Exalted is He) or “Jalla Dhikruhu” (Sublime is His Remembrance) or “Tabarak Asmuhu” (Blessed is His Name) or “Jallat ‘Aẓamatuhu” (Illustrious is His Greatness) or whatever is similar to that from the phrases of familiarity on the reverence and glorification [of Allāh].

6. If the student writes: “so-and-so, son of so-and-so”, and the first one was one of the respected names, such as Abdullah, and Abdur Rahman. The etiquette requires that Allah’s name should not be placed in the beginning of the line, and worship at the end of the line before it, to avoid the infamy of [such a] state, even if it’s not intended.

7. If the blessing on Nabi ﷺ is missing from the narration, the student should not abandon it verbally.

8. The student must mention, when mentioning Nabi ﷺ, salāt (blessings) and salām (peace) in their completeness like this ((ﷺ)), not as a symbol for them such as “ص” or “ صلعم” nor limited to one of them like " عليه الصلاة" (blessing be upon him)

9. When the student writes " رسول اللّه ﷺ ", he should not put the word 'رسول' (prophet) at the end of the line and ‘ﷲ’ (the name of Allāh) with the salāt (blessings) at the beginning of the next line.

10. If the name of a companion happens upon the student, it is incumbent upon him to write, ‘May Allāh be pleased with him’. If, however, the companion is the son of another companion, he should write ‘May Allāh be pleased with them both’. Likewise, he should seek satisfaction and mercy upon all the companions and write, ‘May Allāh be pleased with all of them’.

All of this [should be done] even if it is not written in the actual narration from which the student reports, as this is not [a part of the] narration; it is only a du'ā (supplication).

The Most Important Books on this Subject:

Al-Jāmi’ Li Akhlāq Al-Rāwī Wa Ādāb Al-Sāmi’ - Hafiẓ Khaṭīb Al-Baghdādi

The Etiquette of Narrating Hadith

These are the etiquettes that must be adhered to for the one who leads gatherings of taḥdīth and riwāyah, and they are [as follows]:

1. To make sincere intention for the sake of Allāh, The Most Blessed, The Exalted

2. To clean the heart from personal, worldly interests

3. To not undertake [the task of] narrating Hadith before qualifying for that

4. To narrate from the authoritative source

5. To be endowed with a noble character

6. To inaugurate and conclude the gathering with taḥmīd and benediction upon the Prophet ﷺ every time his noble remembrance is mentioned

7. To seek to propitiate the companions (by saying) “May Allāh be pleased with him” when mentioning them

8. To respect one who is more worthier, and to not speak in the presence of one who is more knowledgeable

9. To purify oneself for prayer, apply perfume, brush (one’s teeth with miswāk), and approach people wearing tidy clothes in the best manner and appearance

10. To approach all the students and not single out some rather than others

11. He shouldn't narrate hadith as being quoted, rather he should narrate in such a way that all students are capable of understanding and comprehending.

12. He should refrain from correction when there is a fear of mixing due to illness, old age, blindness, or senility.

The most important of the books on this topic is Al-Jami’ li Akhlāq al-Rāwi wa Ādāb al-Sāmi’ by Imām Ḥāfiẓ al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādi RH (d. 463).

This is what Allāh has made easy for me in this book regarding the concise introduction for the terminologies of the Prophetic hadith in an easy language and simplified manner, [meant to] chide every individual who studies this honourable science for the first time.

I ask Allāh Ta'āla: that He makes this deed of mine solely for the sake of His Noble Satisfaction and that He accepts from me. All Praise Is for Allāh at the beginning and the end, praise [for the One Who] fulfils His Favour and rewards exceedingly. And may His complete Peace and Blessings be upon our master Muḥammad and his family and all of his companions.

Written by: Daania, Zahra, Habibah, and Fatima [Students at Al-Muhaddithat Institute (2027)]