The Most Reliable Hadith, Ranked

Choose the Hadith you think is the most reliable!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 28, 2024 06:55
The process of assessing the reliability of Hadiths plays a critical role in understanding and applying Islamic teachings accurately. Scholars historically have devoted immense efforts to scrutinize these narratives, ensuring that the most authentic are distinguished from the less reliable. This scrutiny helps in preserving the integrity of Islamic legal and moral guidance. By participating in the voting process, users have the opportunity to contribute to a community-driven endeavor to identify the most reliable Hadiths. Each vote helps to shape a more nuanced understanding of these texts, reflecting a collective agreement on their reliability. This dynamic ranking not only enhances personal knowledge but also aids in fostering a deeper connection with the core teachings of Islam.

What Is the Most Reliable Hadith?

  1. 1
    66
    votes
    Considered the most reliable Hadith collection among Shia Muslims due to its comprehensive coverage of Hadith and strict verification process.
    Al-Kafi is a major collection of Shia Hadith, considered one of the most reliable sources of Hadith in Shia Islam.
    • Number of volumes: 8
    • Number of Hadith: 16,199
    • Classification: Usul al-Kafi (Principles of Kafi) and Furū al-Kafi (Branches of Kafi)
    • Content: Comprehensive collection covering various aspects of Islamic teachings, including theology, jurisprudence, ethics, and traditions
    • Authenticity: Considered authentic and reliable by Shia scholars
  2. 1
    92
    votes
    Sahih al-Bukhari
    Bakkouz · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Considered the most authentic Hadith collection due to its strict verification process and high standards of authenticity.
    Sahih al-Bukhari is one of the most reliable collections of Hadith, which are the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is considered the most authentic book after the Quran and is widely accepted by Muslims around the world.
    • Number of hadiths: 7,275
    • Authenticity: Considered the most authentic collection of hadith
    • Compilation: Took over 16 years to compile
    • Verification process: Imam al-Bukhari applied strict criteria for accepting hadiths
    • Chapters: Organized into 97 books covering various aspects of life
  3. 2
    38
    votes
    Considered the second most authentic Hadith collection due to its strict verification process and high standards of authenticity.
    Sahih Muslim is one of the most reliable collections of Hadith, which are the sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is considered as the second most authentic Hadith collection after Sahih al-Bukhari.
    • Authenticity: Sahih Muslim is widely recognized by scholars for its high level of authenticity.
    • Comprehensive: It contains more than 7,000 Hadith, covering various aspects of life and providing guidance to Muslims on matters of faith, worship, and daily life.
    • Organization: The Hadith in Sahih Muslim are systematically arranged based on various themes and topics.
    • Chain of Narrators: Each Hadith in Sahih Muslim includes a detailed chain of narrators, ensuring its reliability and traceability.
    • Impact: Sahih Muslim has had a significant impact on the development of Islamic jurisprudence and the understanding of Islamic teachings.
  4. 2
    26
    votes
    Considered reliable due to its focus on the practical application of Hadith and strict verification process.
    Tahdhib al-Ahkam is a book of Hadith collection that focuses on the reliability of the narrators and the authenticity of the reported traditions. It is regarded as one of the most reliable Hadith compilations in the field of Islamic jurisprudence.
    • Authenticity Focus: Tahdhib al-Ahkam focuses on authentic and reliable Hadiths.
    • Narrator Evaluation: It extensively evaluates the narrators for their trustworthiness and reliability.
    • Islamic Jurisprudence: The collection heavily focuses on Hadiths related to Islamic legal rulings.
    • Systematic Organization: The Hadiths are arranged in a well-organized manner, making it easy to reference specific topics.
    • Compilation Method: The book follows a meticulous methodology in selecting and authenticating the reported Hadiths.
  5. 3
    14
    votes
    Considered reliable due to its focus on practical Islamic law and strict verification process.
    Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih is a book of Hadith written by Imam Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Kulayni, commonly known as al-Kulayni. It is an important collection of Hadith in Twelver Shia Islam.
    • Number of Hadith: Over 21,000 Hadith
    • Reliability: Considered to be one of the most reliable collections of Hadith in Twelver Shia Islam
    • Comprehensiveness: Covers a wide range of topics including theology, jurisprudence, ethics, and guidance for different aspects of life
    • Source Authenticity: Includes Hadith from reliable and trustworthy narrators
    • Narrator Verification: Includes chains of narration (isnad) for each Hadith, allowing verification of narrators and their reliability
  6. 3
    24
    votes
    Considered reliable due to its comprehensive coverage of Hadith and strict verification process.
    Sunan Abu Dawud is a compilation of authentic Hadiths, categorized by topics, and considered as one of the most reliable Hadith collections in Sunni Islam. It is widely studied and used as a reference by scholars and Muslims worldwide.
    • Number of Hadiths: 4,800
    • Chapters: 43
    • Authenticity: Generally considered to contain mostly authentic or hasan (good) Hadiths
    • Significance: Considered as one of the six most authentic Hadith collections by Sunni Muslims
    • Language: Primarily in Arabic
  7. 4
    13
    votes
    Considered reliable due to its comprehensive coverage of Hadith and strict verification process.
    Al-Istibsar is a compilation of narrations gathered from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions. It is one of the most reliable collections of hadith in the Shia school of thought.
    • Hadith Count: Over 20,000 narrations
    • Authenticity: Considered reliable and accepted by Shia scholars
    • Content: Covering various aspects of Islamic teachings, including jurisprudence, ethics, spirituality, and historical events
    • Organization: Divided into chapters based on thematic relevance
    • Narrator Chain: Detailed chain of narrators for each narration
  8. 4
    18
    votes

    Jami at-Tirmidhi

    Imam al-Tirmidhi
    Considered reliable due to its strict verification process and focus on the practical application of Hadith.
    Jami at-Tirmidhi is a collection of Hadith, or sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), compiled by Imam al-Tirmidhi. It is considered one of the most reliable Hadith collections after the Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
    • Number of Hadith: Over 3,800
    • Classification: Sunan
    • Authenticity: Contains both authentic and weak Hadith
    • Comprehensiveness: Covers various aspects of Islamic life
    • Divisions: Organized into 46 books
  9. 5
    17
    votes

    Wasa'il al-Shi'a

    Al-Shaykh al-Hurr al-Amili
    Considered reliable due to its comprehensive coverage of Hadith and strict verification process.
    Wasa'il al-Shi'a is an important collection of Hadith in Shia Islam. It is a comprehensive compilation that focuses on presenting reliable and authentic narrations.
    • Volume: 20
    • Number of Hadiths: about 30,000
    • Authenticity: Highly reliable
    • Scope: Covering various topics including theology, ethics, jurisprudence, and history
    • Language: Arabic
  10. 5
    20
    votes
    Considered reliable due to its comprehensive coverage of Hadith and strict verification process.
    Sunan al-Nasa'i is a collection of hadiths compiled by Imam Ahmad ibn Shu'ayb al-Nasa'i. It is considered one of the six authentic collections of hadith in Sunni Islam, along with Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawood, Jami` at-Tirmidhi, and Sunan Ibn Majah.
    • Authenticity: It is considered authentic and reliable by scholars.
    • Number of Hadith: It contains around 5,000 hadiths.
    • Organization: The hadiths are organized by chapters based on various topics.
    • Narrators: It provides detailed information about the narrators of each hadith.
    • Chain of Narration: It includes the chain of narration (isnad) for each hadith.

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Discussion

Ranking factors for reliable Hadith

  1. Chain of transmission (Isnād)
    The chain of transmission of the Hadith should be authentic and complete, with a reliable narrator transmitting the Hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
  2. The reliability of the narrators
    The narrators of the Hadith should be known for their piety, trustworthiness, and soundness of memory.
  3. Historical context
    The Hadith should fit within the historical context of the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and not conflict with any other established teachings or principles.
  4. Consistency with Quranic teachings
    The Hadith should be consistent with the teachings of the Quran and not contradict any established teachings or principles.
  5. Multiple chains of transmission
    If a Hadith is transmitted through multiple chains of transmission, it adds to its reliability.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most reliable Hadith. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Hadith is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 4955 views
  • 294 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Hadith once every 24 hours. The rank of each Hadith is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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More information on most reliable hadith

Background Information: What is the Most Reliable Hadith? Hadiths are the sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad, which have been recorded and transmitted by his companions. They are a crucial source of guidance for Muslims, providing them with insights into the Prophet's teachings and practices. However, not all hadiths are considered reliable. Due to the nature of their transmission, some hadiths have been subject to errors, distortions, and even forgeries. Therefore, scholars have developed a rigorous methodology for evaluating the authenticity and reliability of hadiths, known as the science of hadith. Among the various criteria used to determine the reliability of hadiths, the chain of transmission or isnad is the most important. This refers to the series of narrators who have transmitted the hadith from the Prophet to the collector of hadiths. If the chain of transmission is unbroken, and the narrators are known to be trustworthy and competent, then the hadith is considered sahih or authentic. However, even sahih hadiths may differ in their level of reliability, depending on the context and content of the hadith. Some hadiths may be considered more reliable than others due to their multiple chains of transmission, agreement with other authentic hadiths, and conformity with the Quran and the principles of Islam. Therefore, when it comes to determining the most reliable hadith, scholars rely on a combination of factors, including the chain of transmission, the content of the hadith, the context of its narration,

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