Hadith classification – Introduction

The Classification of hadiths – an overview

In general, a hadith (tradition) is either sound/authentic or weak/unauthentic. Unanimously, an authentic hadith serves as evidence in jurisprudence and other areas of Islam such as in creedal matters.

With the development of the science of hadith, hadith scholars ultimately divided traditions into three main categories: 1. Saḥīḥ (sound/authentic), 2. Ḥasan (good/acceptable), and 3. Ḍaʿīf (weak/inauthentic). Ḍaʿīf hadiths are further divided into two categories: those with slight weaknesses, and those with strong weaknesses. Some legal scholars also considered hadiths with slight weaknesses as evidence in jurisprudence. Only hadiths with strong weaknesses are completely rejected, i.e., hadiths that consist of a chain of narration that includes a dishonest or very unreliable narrator.

Imām al-Tirmidhi (d. 279/892) is hailed as the first to classify hadiths into the three aforementioned categories in his hadith collection Sunan al-Tirmidhi. Prior to that, scholars only classified hadiths as authentic (Maqbūl, Ṣaḥīḥ) and inauthentic (Mardūd, Ḍaʿīf), even though the term Ḥasan was in sporadic use before that. Some are of the opinion that al-Tirmidhi only popularized it between hadith scholars due to its use before him. In this 3-way categorization, authentic hadiths with slight weaknesses are a category of their own called Ḥasan. Al-Tirmidhi touched upon this category in more detail, stating that there must be three characteristics present in a hadith to be classified as Ḥasan: First, the chain of narrators must be free from any liar; second, there must be difference in the hadith when compared to a stronger more authentic hadith (Shādhdh); and third, the hadith must be supported by another alternative chain of narration of at least equal strength.

This division then was adopted by the hadith scholars and became the de facto classification of hadiths. However, scholars differ as to when a hadith is placed in a certain category (this is discussed in more depth in the respective categories).

In addition, a subcategory of weak hadiths is considered by some scholars as another major category: the fabricated hadith (Mawḍūʾ). This is justified both because of its importance and because of the extensive literature written about it, which details what fabricated hadiths are and how to detect them. Works that list names of liars or suspected liars, alphabetically, were also created for the sole purpose of this type of narrations. It must be noted that Mawḍūʾ hadiths are not in fact hadiths, but are classified as such, apart from the linguistic correspondence, because they superficially conform to the conventional characteristics of hadiths (consisting of a chain of narration [isnad] and text [matn]).

The different hadith categories

Ṣaḥīḥ

A Saḥīḥ Hadith is a hadith that meets the criteria for the highest standard of Hadiths set by the hadith scholars unanimously. Here, you will find out more about these criteria and their development.

Read our paper about this category.

Ḥasan

A Ḥasan Hadith is a hadith deemed authentic albeit at a lesser degree than a Saḥīḥ Hadith. It was considered a separate category of its own from the third century CE and onwards. Learn more about it here.

Ḍaʿīf

If a hadith does not meet the minimum criteria for an authentic hadith, it is deemed weak (Ḍaʾīf). Weakness is of many degrees as well. Weak hadiths and its respective categories are dealt with here.

Mauḍūʿ

A Mawḍūʾ hadith is a fabrication ascribed to the Prophet (ṣ). This section explains when a hadith is classified as such and discusses its advent.