Did Prophet and His Companions Prohibit the Writing of the Hadiths-1

8/13/2019 Did Prophet and His Companions Prohibit the Writing of the Hadiths-1

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This article is a response to hadith-rejecters. According to them prophetMuhammed (pbuh) and his companions forbade the writing of Hadiths. I willrespond to all the Hadiths they cite as eidence and refute them one by one!od willing. "ote I will highlight in red the Hadiths they use#

$laim %

Ibn &aeed Al-'hudry reported that the messenger of !od had said

(A) *o not write anything from me +,$+T /0A". Anyone who wroteanything other than the uran shall erase it.1

(2) Again in the boo3 Ta4-yeed Al-Ilm1 Abu &aeed Al-'hudry said 1 I as3edthe Messenger of !od a permission to write his hadiths but he refused togie me a permission.1

0esponse# The prophet (pbuh) forbade the writing of Hadith in the earlystages of Islam he feared that his sayings and the uran would be mi5ed.6ater on when the uran was nearly completed he allowed for the Hadith tobe written.

The 7ull Hadith what &a8id 'hudri narrated is below#

Abu &a8id 'hudri reported that Allah8s Messenger (may peace be upon him)said# *o not ta3e down anything from me and he who too3 down anythingfrom me e5cept the ur8an he should efface that A"* narrate from me forthere is no harm in it and he who attributed any falsehood to me9andHammam said# I thin3 he also said#1 deliberately1 9he should in fact find his

abode in the Hell97ire. (&ahih Muslim 2oo3 :; "umber


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start.

Muhammad Hashim 'amali says the following#

It is generally 3nown that the prophet (pbuh) discouraged documentation ofhis own sayings and the sunna at the early stages of his mission in order topresere the purity of the uran and preent any possibility of confusionbetween uran and his sunna.

*uring the latter part of his mission that is at the time when much of theuranic te5t had already been documented the prophet responded positiely

to the re4uest of some of his companions to write his sayings. 2y the timewhen most of the of uran was receied memorised and documented theprophet permitted documentation of his &unna and addressed thecompanions to presere 3nowledge through writing1 (&ource# Muhammad'amali A te5t boo3 of Hadith studies page ;;)

$laim ;

7rom Ibn Hanbal#

=ayd Ibn Thabit (The rophet8s closest reelation writer) isited the 'halifaMu8aawiyah (more than >? years after the rophet8s death) and told him astory about the rophet. Mu8aawiyah li3ed the story and ordered someone towrite it down. 2ut =ayd said. 1 the messenger of !od ordered us neer towrite anything of his hadith1.

0esponse# =aid ibn thabit (0A) neer met Muawiyah. 0easons as follows#

rophet Muhammed (pbuh) died in the year @>>

=aid Ibn Thabit died in the year @@?


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Muawiya came in power and became the leader in the year @@%.

According to uranist (hadith rejecters) this incident too3 place in the year@@>.

uestion# How could =aid hae met Muawiya the leader in the year @@> when=aid died in the year @@? lease do enlighten us.

The correct Hadith is as below as you read you will see >? years1 is not

een in there.

"arrated by =aid ibn Thabit Al-Muttalib ibn Abdullah ibn Hantab said# =aid ibnThabit entered upon Mu8awiyah and as3ed him about a tradition. He ordereda man to write it. =aid said# The Apostle of Allah (2/H) ordered us not towrite any of his traditions. &o he erased it. (&unan of Abu-*awud Hadith>@:?)

As I hae e5plained earlier there was a prohibition by the prophet but thiswas later reo3ed and he allowed it.

Muawiya (0A) did get Hadith written down later as the prohibition was liftedby the prophet (pbuh)#

(A) "arrated by Barrad (The cler3 of Al-Mughira) Muawiya wrote to Al-

Mughira# Brite to me what you hae heard from Allah8s Apostle.1 &o he (Al-Mughira) wrote to him# Allah8s rophet used to say at the end of each prayer#6a ilaha illalla-h wahdahu la shari3a lahu lahul Mul3u wa lahul Hamdu wahula ala 3ulli shai8in 4adir. CAllahumma la mani8 a lima a8taita wala mu8tiyalima mana8ta wala yanfa8u dhuljadd min3al-jadd.1 He also wrote to him thatthe rophet used to forbid#

(%) il and al (idle useless tal3 or that you tal3 too much about others)


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(;) As3ing too many 4uestions (in disputed religious matters)D

(>) And wasting one8s wealth by e5traaganceD

(:) and to be undutiful to one8smother

(E) and to bury the daughters alie

(@) and to preent your faors (beneolence) to others (i.e. not to pay therights of others)

(


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0esponse# *ealing with each claim one by one# A2 $

KAL %- 7irst ersion 1 I left for you what if you hold up to you will neer bemisguided the boo3 of !od and my 7amily.

+,6A"ATI" 7 KAL

Al-Tirmidhi HadithHadith @%:> "arrated byNabir ibn Abdullah

Nabir saw Allah8s Messenger (peace be upon him) when performing the hajj

seated on his she-camel al-aswa8 on the day of Arafah giing an addressand he heard him saying people I hae left among you something of sucha nature that if you adhere to it you will not go astray# Allah8s 2oo3 and

my close relaties who belong to my household.1 Tirmidhi transmitted it.

7ollowing Allah8s boo3 and close relaties as close relaties used to followsunnah of rasool Allah.

K2L;-&econd ersion I left for you what if you hold up to you will neer bemisguided the boo3 of !od and my &unnah1 .

+,6A"ATI" 7 2

&unnah is in Hadith.

Muwatta 2oo3 :@ "umber :@.%.>#

Oahya related to me from Mali3 that he heard that the Messenger of Allahmay Allah bless him and grant him peace said I hae left two matters with


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you. As long as you hold to them you will not go the wrong way. They are the2oo3 of Allah and the &unna of His rophet.1

This is self e5planatory.

K$L>- Third ersion I left for you what if you hold up to you will neer bemisguided the 2' 7 !*.1

+,6A"ATI" 7 $

+5cerpt from lastK7inalL sermon

&ahih Muslim Hadith %JJE "arrated by Nabir ibn Abdullah# I hae left amongyou the 2oo3 of Allah and if you hold fast to it you would neer go astray.And you would be as3ed about me (on the *ay of 0esurrection) (now tell me)what would you say They (the audience) said# Be will bear witness that youhae coneyed (the message) discharged (the ministry of rophethood) andgien wise (sincere) counsel. He (the narrator) said# He (the Holy rophet)then raised his forefinger towards the s3y and pointing it at the people (said)# Allah be witness. Allah be witness1 saying it thrice .

Implementing uran itself re4uires Hadith as it carries to an e5tent laws ande5planations of uran. 7rom prayer to capital punishments etc.

There are three ersions this is where we re4uire hadith e5egesis just li3euran e5plains some other parts of uran.

uran e5egesis# +,AM6+.

7irst ersion P ;#>: And when Be said unto the angels# rostrate yourselesbefore Adam they fell prostrate all sae Iblis. He demurred through pride


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and so became a disbelieer. >E And Be said# Adam *well thou and thywife in the !arden and eat ye freely (of the fruits) thereof where ye willD butcome not nigh this tree lest ye become wrongdoers.

&econd ersion P


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to go around the 'aaba it doesn8t actually tell us how many times we shoulddo this. Thus we find this eidence and proof from the Hadith of the rophetpbuh (&ource# http#RRwww.oocities.orgR)

$laim :

Abu 2a3r at one point was not sure whether to 3eep what he 3nows ofhadiths or not. He had collected E?? hadiths during ery long companionshipof the prophet Muhammed but he could not sleep the night until he burnedthem1.

0esponse# I don8t 3now why these liars are spreading propaganda andmanipulating the Hadiths ma3ing it out li3e the 6eaders disli3ed the writing

of Hadith from the rophet. 6et8s see why Abu 2a3r burned the Hadiths.

Aisha (0A) says#

My father (Abu 2a3r) had a collection of E?? hadiths. ne night I noticedthat he was ery restless. He was tossing about in the bed and could go tosleep. I got worried oer this and in4uired. Are you suffering from any trouble

or worried about anything1 2ut he did not spea3 and remained restlessthroughout the night. "e5t morning he called me and said bring thecollection of hadith that I gae you to 3eep.1 I brought the boo3 and he setfire to it till it was burnt. He said The collection contained many hadiths thatI had heard from other people. I thought if I died and left behind a Hadithaccepted as authentic by me but really not so then I should hae to answerfor that.1 (&ource# 2y Muhammed =a3aria 7aQa8il-+-Amaal $hapter stories of&ahabah1 page %:?)

It was Abu 2a3r8s (0A) Qeal for 3nowledge that caused him to compile a boo3of E?? hundred hadiths. 2ut it was due to his e5treme cautiousness that heburnt the collection of Hadiths. Another thing to note is that if Abu 2a3r wrotedown hadiths and it was forbidden by the prophet at the time would he reallygo against the prophet8s commands and write it The answer will be no It isclear that the writing of hadith were not forbidden.
http://www.oocities.org/http://www.oocities.org/


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$laim E

I wanted to write the &un8an and I remembered a people who were beforeyou they wrote other boo3s to follow and abandoned the boo3 of !od. And Iwill neer I swear replace !od8s boo3 with anything1 (Nami Al-2ayan %R@


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(>) /mar Ibn Al-'hattab wrote hadiths to the following people#

%- /tbah bin 7ar4ad

;- Abu /baidah bin Al-Narrah

>- He presented Abdullah bin mar hadiths that had to do with sada4aat.

(&ource# *irasaat fil Hadith Al-"abawi page %>% and%>G)

More eidence that /mar followed and encouraged Hadiths the &unnah ofthe prophet (pbuh)#

/mar Ibn 'hattab deliered a sermon after the prophet8s death and said#

Ma8dan b. Talha reported# C/mar b. 'hattab deliered the 7riday sermon andhe made a mention of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) and Abu2a3r. He (further) said# I saw in a dream that a coc3 pec3ed me twice and Iperceie that my death is near. &ome people hae suggested me to appointmy successor. And Allah would not destroy His religion. His caliphate and thatwith which He sent His Apostle (may peace be upon him) If death approaches

me soon the (issue) of $aliphate (would be decided) by the consent of thesesi5 men with whom the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)remained well pleased till his death. And I 3now fully well that some peoplewould blame me that I 3illed with these ery hands of mine some personswho apparently professed (Islam). And if they do this (blame me) they are theenemies of Allah and are non-belieers and hae gone astray. And I leae notafter me anything which to my mind seems more important than 'alala. And Ineer turned towards the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) (forguidance) more often than this 'alala and he (the rophet) was not annoyedwith me on any other (issue) than this# (And he was so perturbed) that hestruc3 his fingers on my chest and said# *oes this erse. that is at the end of&urat al-"isa8. which was reealed in the hot season not suffice you And if Ilie longer I would decide this (problem so clearly) that one who reads theur8an or one who does not read it would be able to ta3e (correct) decisions(under its light). He (C/mar) further said# Allah I call Oou witness on these!oernors of lands that I sent them to (the peoples of these lands) so thatthey should administer justice amongst them teach them their religion andthe &unnah of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) and distribute


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amongst them the spoils of war and refer to me that which they find difficultto perform. people. you eat Cthese two plants and these are onions andgarlic. and I find them nothing but repugnant for I saw that when theMessenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) sensed the odour of these twofrom a person in a mos4ue he was made to go to al-2a4i8. &o he who eats it

should (ma3e its odour) die by coo3ing it well.

(&ource# &ahih Muslim 2oo3 S: Hadith number S%%E%)

(E) /mar Ibn 'hattab said Try to understand whateer cases are referred toyou where there is no eidence from the uran or &unnah then try to ma3ean analogy between the case that is before you and similar cases that aredealt with in uran and &unnah.1

(&ource# Ilam al-Muwa44i8een %RJED Majallah al-2ulooth al-Ilmiyah


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/mar. He said # I cannot I am afraid that I will A** or &/2T0A$T something. Ifwe said to /MA0 tell us &M+THI"! 70M the M+&&+"!+0 of Allah. He(/mar) would say# I Am A70AI* that I may A** or &/2T0A$T a letter.Messenger (pbuh) said Bhoeer tells a 6I+ about me will be in hell. (&ource#Musnad Ibn Hanbal olume %. page %G> number >;@)

(2) It was narrated that Abu 7iras said /mar Ibn 'hattab gae a speech amdsaid people we used to 3now you when the prophet (pbuh) was among usand reelation was coming down to him# Allah would tell us about you. 2utnow the prophet (pbuh) has passed away and reelation has ceased and nowthe way to N/*!+ you is this# whoeer among you shows us good conduct wewill thin3 well of him and loe him# whoeer among you shows us badconduct we will thin3 badly of him and hate him for that and whateer is inyour hearts is between you and your 6ord. There was a time when I used to

thin3 that whoeer learned the uran see3ing thereby Allah and (the rewardthat) is with him would be rewarded in the hereafter but some men learneduran see3ing that which is with people. &o see3 Allah by learning uran andby your good deeds. 2y Allah I do not send them my wor3ers to stri3e you orseiQe your wealth# 0ATH+0 I &+"* TH+M T O/ T T+A$H O/ O/00+6I!I" A"* &/""AH .. (Musnad Ibn Hanbal olume % page % number;J@)

This section is about the early Hadith boo3s that were written before 2u3hariand prophet Muhammed (pbuh) allowing for Hadiths to be written down.

Mufti Abdul-Naleel aasimi says the following#

TH+ &TA!+& 7 TH+ $MI6ATI" 7 AHAA*ITH

The Ahaadith were not compiled and codified in the time of the rophet(2/H) li3e it is today. There e5isted no real need for this as the companionsmemorised irtually eery word spo3en by the rophet (2/H). Allah Ta8alahad granted them such perfect and e5cellent memories that once they heardanything they used to remember it throughout their lies. The rememberingof lengthy poems and the ancestral details of horses and camels bears


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testimony to this fact. nce Ibn /mar (0A) repeated Ahaadith to a bedouin inorder for him to memoriQe it well. The bedouin remar3ed +nough once issufficient I shall not forget it till death. I hae performed @? pilgrimages on @?camels and I 3now perfectly well which Hajj I performed on which camel.1

This was the condition of the bedouins in ordinary matters and mundane tal3.How much more did they presere the speech of prophet (2/H). "ot only hisspeech but eery action notion indication approal disapproal and deed ofrophet (2/H) was presered by them. They alued these more than theirlies and wealth. They used to alternate with their business partners in sittingin the gathering of the Holy rophet (2/H). +ach partner used to narrate tohis companion what he had heard the rophet ( 2/H) say. +5trememeasures were ta3en to safeguard the words of the rophet (2/H). Many ofthem were not literate (did not 3now how to write). Howeer the companions

who 3new how to write used to record and write down the Ahaadith as well.The Ahaadith were recorded in the presence of the rophet (2/H).

TH+ TH0++ M+TH*& 7 0+&+0FI"! A"* &A7+!/A0*I"! TH+ HA*ITH

Be hereby detail all the methods utilised to presere Ahaadith from theprophetic era upto this day. There is consensus that recording and writingwas not the only method of safeguarding Ahaadith. There e5isted otherreliable methods as well#

M+M0I&I"! TH+ AHAA*ITH

The most reliable method adopted by the &ahaaba (0A) to safeguard theAhaadith was through memory.

0+&+0FATI" TH0/!H A$TI" A"* 0A$TI$+This was another reliable means of protecting and safeguarding the Ahaadith.The companions (0A) used to transform the words of rophet (2/H) intoaction immediately and eery companion used to practice upon the Hadith.

This resulted in eery word of rophet (2/H) becoming a practical actionand deed which was thoroughly remembered and presered. Thereforemany traditions contact the phrases# This is how I saw the rophet (2/H)


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carry out and perform this.1

This practical method was ery effectie in presering the Ahaadith. It iscontinuing upto this day.

B0ITI"! A"* 0+$0*I"! TH+ HA*ITH

This method was also customary in the prophetic era. This procedure hadpassed through four stages (phases)#

(A) 0ecording of Ahaadith without any arrangement or se4uence

(2) Arranging the Ahaadith relating to certain subject (topic) or subjects intoone small boo3

($) Accumulating of arious Ahaadith into one boo3.

(*) $ompiling Ahaadith and codifying.

The first two types of compiling were e5tensiely practised during the time ofthe rophet (2/H) and the companions (0A). The following details will suffice

for the 0ejectors of Hadith.

(%) Imam Tirmidhi has included a special chapter in the $hapter of 'nowledgetitled The $hapter of the ermissibility of 0ecording Hadith P Abu Hurrairah(0A) reports that the rophet indicated to a certain Ansari companion whosememory was wea3 to write. ne Ansari companion (0A) used to sit byrophet (2/H) and listen to the HadithD it used to please him but he wasunable to memorise it. He complained to the rophet (2/H) who replied&ee3 assistance with your right hand and he indicated towards writing with

his hand1 (Namia TirmiQi ol. ; pg. %?


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anger and happiness.8 I abstained from writing. I mentioned this to therophet (2/H) and he indicated towards his tongue and said CBrite 2y Himin whose hand is my life. "othing e5cept the truth comes out of it.8(Mustadra3 Fol.% age %?:)

(>) In one Hadith recorded in Mustadra3-e-Haa3im an e5plicit and clear orderof writing is gien. The words are Tie down 3nowledge1 the $ompanionen4uired Bhat is tying down 3nowledge1 The rophet (2/H) replied It8swriting.1 (Mustadra3 ol. % pg. %?@)

(:) The incident of Abu &hah Oemani is famous. nce the rophet (2/H)mentioned an incident and upon the re4uest of Abu &hah the rophet (2/H)instructed the $ompanion to write for Abu &hah P this Hadith is recorded in

Name Tirmidhi ol. ; pg. %?< and 2u3hari ol. % pg. ;>

There are numerous traditions indicating the instruction of writing Ahaadith.Therefore many &ahaaba recorded ahaadith in the rophetic era. 0eferencesare many of such collections and compilations#

(%) TH+ &AHI7A ($66+$TI") 7 A2*/66AH I2" AM0 (0adhiallaahu nhu)

Abu Hurayrah (0A) is the greatest narrator of Hadith. *espite this he says"o person has learnt more Hadith than me. Howeer Abdullah bin Amr (0A)used to write the Hadith and I should not write.1 This is clear eidence thatHadith used to be written in that era. Abdullah bin Amr (0A) possessed acollection that e5ceeded one thousand Ahaadith. Ibnr-0ushd has mentionedin his 'itaab Asadul !haaba (ol. > pg. ;>>) that this collection was namedAs-saadi4ah.

(;) TH+ &AHI7A ($66+$TI" 7 A6I (0A)

Imam 2u3hari (0A) has mentioned in this &ahifa in the chapter of Ilm1 (ol. %pg. ;%) and he has mentioned it in four places. The narrator Abu Nuhaifareports that I en4uired from Ali (0.A.) do you possess a boo31 He replied#"o e5cept the 2oo3 of Allah or the understanding granted to a Muslim orwhat is in this &ahifa.1 I as3ed him Bhat is in this &ahifa1 He repliedrders relating to C*iyat8 (penalty or murder) P the freeing of prisoners andno Muslim will be 3illed in lieu of a 3afir.1


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This &ahifa contained orders regarding murder compensations capitalpunishments details of =a3at and matters relating to non-Muslim citiQens inan Islamic &tate.

(>) 'ITA2/& P &AAH

This collection was personally dictated by the rophet (2/H). It containeddetails regarding =a3at /shar etc. According to some reports it seems asthough this was written for the =a3at collectors. Howeer the rophet(2/H) left this world before it was sent to them. This 3itaab (boo3) remainedwith Abu 2a3r and /mar (0.A.). +entually /mar bin Abdul AQiQ memoriQed itand thereafter Ibn &hihaab =ohri memorised it.

(:) &AHI7A I2" A22A& (0.A.)

Ibn &aad (0.A.) mentions in his 3itaab Taba4aat1 that the slae of Ibn Abbas(0.A.) said He found a large collection of the 3itaabs of Ibn Abbas e4ual to acamel-load.1

(E) &AHI7A NAA2I0 I2" A2*/66AH (0adhiallaahu nhu)

Imam Muslim has reported that Naabir (0A) had compiled a boo3 on Hajj.Imam 2u3hari mentioned this is his Taari3h-e-'abeer ol. < pg. %J@) P Hadhratataa4da bin *e8aama as-&odusi had memorised this &ahifa.

(@) &AHI7A &AM/0A I2" N/"*2 (0A)

HafiQ ibn Hajar (0A) reports that Hadhrat &amoora (0A) has narrated a big(olume) chapter from his father. Imam Muhammad ibn &ireen (0A) reportsthat the 'itaab which &amoora has written for his children contains great3nowledge.

(


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Imam Ha3im mentions in Mustadra3 that once Hassan ibn /mar narrated aHadith to Abu Hurayra. Abu Hurayra denied the Hadith. Hadhrat Hassan toldhim I hae narrated this Hadith from you1. He replied If I hae narrated itit will definitely be written down.1

He had written down all his Hadith in the end.

(G) &AHI7A I2" MA&8*

HafiQ ibn Abdul-2arr (0A) mentions in his 'itaab Naame 2ayaan nul-Ilm thatibn Mas8ood (0A) too3 out one 'itaab and swore an oath that it was compiledby him.

(%?) &AHI7A AM0 I2" HA=AM (0A)Bhen the rophet (2/H) appointed ibn HaQam as a goernor of "ajran hegae him a &ahifa which was written by /bayy bin 'a8ab. It contained ordersregarding cleanliness purification &alaat Hajj /mra Nihaad etc.

(%%) &AHI7A I2" M/2AA0A'

&a8eed ibn Hilaal says Bhen we fre4uented Hadhrat Anas bin Mali3 he too3out a olume and said CI heard these from the rophet (2/H). I hae written

it and presered it.81 (Mustadra3 Ha3im ol. > pg. E:)

There are many other small &ahifas which the rophet (2/H) sent to the3ingsD and other compilations which hae been omitted for the sa3e ofbreity.

TH+ +0A 7 /MA0 2I" A2*/6 A=I=

Though the writing of the Ahaadith had commenced it was not done in anarranged manner i.e. it was compiled and codified. *ue to the pre-occupations of the 'hulafaa-e-0aashideen (Muslim 6eaders) with thecompilation of the "oble urUn and other important matters it was notpossible for them to accomplish this tas3.


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Howeer when the politicians at the time of Ali (0.A.) began to fabricate falseAhaadith Ali became concerned about safeguarding the authentic Ahaadith.He used to stand on the mimbar and announce the authentic Ahaadith to the

people. This continued till the period of /mar bin Abdul AQiQ (0.A.) whobecame the 3halifa (6eader) after the demise of &ulayman bin Abdul Mali3.His 3hilafat lasted only for ; years. After accepting 3hilafat he wrote to the

judge of Madinah Abuba3r bin HaQm saying Bhateer you find from theAhaadith of the rophet (2/H) write it down. I fear the loss of 3nowledgeand the passing away of the /lema.1 (2u3hari ol.% page ;?)

HafiQ Ibn Hajar mentions that this letter was addressed to all the Nudges ofeery proince. A large collection of Ahaadith were compiled in this manner

in the first century.

(%) HafiQ Ibn Abdul 2ar has written that aQi Abu 2a3r has compiled manyboo3s on Ahaadith called 2oo3s of Abu 2a3r.

(;) The 0isala (2oo3er) of &aalim ibn Abdullah on &ada4aat.

(>) The 0egisters of =uhri P he says that wheneer we were gien anycommand we compiled a brief register. He had played a great role in thecompilation of Hadith.

TH+ $MI6ATI"& 7 TH+ &+$"* $+"T/0O

Farious collections of Hadith are found in this era li3e Name Ma8moon bin

0aashid Name &ufyaan &owri As-&unem of Ibn Nuray P &unan Abul Baleed PMuwatta Imam Mali3.

7rom the aboe discussion we reach the following conclusion that#


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(%) The recording and writing of hadith had began from the time of therophet (2/H)D

(;) $ompiling had began in the time of the &ahaba (0.A.) especially in thetime of Ali (0.A.)D

(>) /mar bin Abdul AQiQ stried in this matter and a large collection wasaccumulated during his periodD

(:) Many boo3s were compiled in the first centuryD

(E) The objections and arguments of the 0ejectors of hadith are fullyansweredD

(@) The fitnah of 0ejection in hadith is old and detrimental to religion in factrejecting the uranD

(

Documents

Did Prophet and His Companions Prohibit the Writing of the Hadiths-1