An article outlining and listing the levels of authentic hadith, with 1 being the most authentic. Examples are also given for each of the 6 levels of authentic hadith. A reference point and resource for students of knowledge. This article is based on books of Usul al-Hadith.
Grades or Levels of Authentic Hadith
- Sahih Hadith included both Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. This is termed ‘agreed upon’. In Arabic this is called ‘Mutafaqun Alahi’.
- Sahih hadith included only in Sahih Bukhari.
- Sahih hadith included only in Sahih Muslim.
- Sahih hadith that meet both the conditions of Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, but not included in their collections.
- Sahih hadith that meets the conditions of Sahih Bukhari.
- Sahih hadith that meets the conditions of Sahih Muslim.
Examples
Sahih Hadith included both Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
وعن أمير المؤمنين أبي حفص عمر بن الخطاب بن نفيل بن عبد العزى بن رياح بن قرط بن رزاح بن عدى بن لؤى ابن غالب القرشى العدوى. رضي الله عنه، قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: “ إنما الأعمال بالنيات، وإنما لكل امرىء ما نوى فمن كانت هجرته إلى الله ورسوله فهجرته إلى الله ورسوله، ومن كانت هجرته لدنيا يصيبها، أو امرأة ينكحها فهجرته إلى ما هاجر إليه” ((متفق على صحته. رواه إماما المحدثين: أبو عبدالله محمد بن إسماعيل بن إبراهيم بن المغيرة بن بَرْدِزْبَهْ الجعفي البخاري، أبو الحسين مسلم بن الحجاج بن مسلم القشيرى النيسابورى رضي الله عنهما في صحيحهما اللذين هما أصح الكتب المصنفة)).
‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him), reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention. So whoever emigrated for Allah and His Messenger, his emigration will be for Allah and His Messenger; and whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration would be for what he emigrated for”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Sahih hadith included only in Sahih Bukhari
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: “والله إني لأستغفر الله وأتوب إليه في اليوم أكثر من سبعين مرة ” ((رواه البخاري)).
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I heard Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: “By Allah, I seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times a day.”
[Al-Bukhari].
Sahih hadith included only in Sahih Muslim
وعن أبي هريرة عبد الرحمن بن صخر رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:
“ إن الله لا ينظر إلى أجسامكم ، ولا إلى صوركم، ولكن ينظر إلى قلوبكم وأعمالكم” ((رواه مسلم)).
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah does not look at your figures, nor at your attire but He looks at your hearts and accomplishments”.
[Muslim].
