What is a Hadith?
A hadith (pl. ahadith) is anything attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ whether it be a saying, action, approval, or description (moral or physical).
Examples of the Different Types of Ahadith:
1. Sayings: The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ صَالِحَ الْأَخْلَاقِ
"I have not been sent except to perfect good character." [Saheeh Al-Adab Al-Mufrad]
2. Actions: The Prophet's ﷺ wife, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ إِذَا دَخَلَ بَيْتَهُ بَدَأَ بِالسِّوَاكِ
"When the Prophet ﷺ would enter his house, he'd begin using the siwak (tooth-stick).” [Saheeh Muslim 253]
3. Approvals: The Prophet's ﷺ companion, Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
كُنَّا نُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَيَضَعُ أَحَدُنَا طَرَفَ الثَّوْبِ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الْحَرِّ فِي مَكَانِ السُّجُودِ
"We used to pray with the Prophet ﷺ and some of us used to place the ends of their clothes at the place of prostration because of scorching heat." [Saheeh Al-Bukhari 385]
4. Descriptions (moral or physical): Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) morally described the Prophet ﷺ saying:
فَإِنَّ خُلُقَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ الْقُرْآنَ
"Verily, the character of the Prophet of Allah ﷺ was the Qur'an." [Saheeh Muslim 746]
Al-Baraa' (may Allah be pleased with him) physically described the Prophet ﷺ saying:
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسِ وَجْهًا وَأَحْسَنَهُ خَلْقًا، لَيْسَ بِالطَّوِيلِ الْبَائِنِ وَلاَ بِالْقَصِيرِ
"Allah's Messenger ﷺ was the handsomest of all the people, and had the best appearance. He was neither very tall nor short." [Saheeh Muslim 3549]
