ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Qur'an and Hadith Chapter Four : the Hadith 1. Preliminary Details & Definitions HADITH (حديث) literally means `talk`. Its plural is AHADITH.(أحاديث) In SHI`A terminology `HADITH` means the talk of a MA`SUM and also that narration which describes the talk, action or `TAQRIR` of a MA`SUM. Talk of a MA`SUM includes his writings and sign (ISHARAH) also.

If a MA`SUM abstains from a work or thing, then this abstaining also is counted as an `action` (in the above definition). `TAQRIR` of a MA`SUM means that if a follower of a MA`SUM did a work in the presence of the presence of the MA`SUM and the said MA`SUM did not prohibit that work_ even though he was in a position to forbid it is he so wished_ then it is called `TAQRIR` of the MA`SUM. We may translate this term as `tacit approval` or `silent approval`.

If a narration does not reach up to a MA`SUM, it is not counted as ` HADITH ` according to SHI`A terminology. (Though sometimes a talk of a companion of a MA`SUM or a disciple of such a companion is called ` HADITH ` just as a figurative expression.) According to the SUNNI terminology, talk, action and TAQRIR of the Prophet, his companions and disciples of such companions is called ` HADITH `. HADITH is also known as KHABAR (خبر) i.e. news and ATHAR (أثر) i.e. trace or track.

Many terms will be used in the following chapters. It is, therefore, necessary to explain important ones beforehand. Here a compete tradition is given with its translation: حماد بن سلمة عن محمد بن إسحاق عن عمرو بن شعيب عن أبيه عن جده قال : "قلت يا رسول الله اكتب كل ما أسمع منك؟ قال, نعم . قلت في الرضا والغضب؟ قال, نعم. فإني لا أقول في ذلك إلا الحق".

HAMMAD IBN SALMAH narrated from MUHAMMAD IBN ISHAQ who narrated from `AMR IBN SHU`AYB who narrated from his father who narrated from his father who said: "I said, O Messenger of Allah, should I write everything which I hear from you?" The Prophet said, "Yes, I said, 'In pleasure and displeasure?" (That is, Should I write everything said by you in every condition?) The Prophet said, "Yes! Because I do not say any condition but the truth".

The first part of the HADITH contains the names of the narrators who had transmitted it one to the other. This chain of narrators is called SANAD (سند) Its plural is ASNAD. The second part is the actual narration beginning from "I said, 'O Messenger of Allah' up to the end of the HADITH. It is called MATN (متن) i.e. the next. The narrator is called RAWI (راوي).