Instructions:
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Watch the video carefully and take clear, organized notes while watching.
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Review the concepts covered in the video and then attempt all the given exercises independently.
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If you feel stuck on any question, go back to your notes and re-watch the relevant part of the video before moving on.
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Do not skip difficult questions—use your notes to understand the method or concept step by step.
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Write down any questions or confusions in your notebook so you can ask the lecturer during the next class.
Good morning students. Today we are going to talk about a very important topic in Islamic history: the preservation of Hadith, both during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and after his passing. As you know, Hadith means the sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet, peace be upon him. They form the second main source of Islamic law after the Qur’an. So preserving them was extremely important for Muslims, to make sure future generations could follow the true teachings of Islam.
Let’s start with how Hadith were preserved during the Prophet’s lifetime. The main method was oral transmission. Remember, the Arabs at that time were known for their powerful memory. They could memorize long poems word for word. So the Companions would carefully listen to the Prophet, peace be upon him, memorize what he said, and then pass it on to others. The Prophet even encouraged this, saying that Allah blesses those who hear his words, understand them, and then pass them on exactly as they heard them.
But there was also a strong warning: no one was allowed to make up false sayings in his name. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said that whoever lies about him deliberately will face punishment in the Hereafter. This made the Companions extremely careful. In addition, while oral transmission was most common, some Hadith were also written down. For example, Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As, may Allah be pleased with him, kept a written collection called Al-Sahifah al-Sadiqah, after the Prophet himself gave him permission to write. So, even during his lifetime, Hadith were being both memorized and recorded.
Now let’s move to what happened after the Prophet passed away. The Companions became the first teachers and preservers of Hadith. People like Abu Hurairah, Aisha, Abdullah ibn Umar, and Anas ibn Malik narrated thousands of Hadith to the next generation. They were very cautious and considered it their duty to spread the Prophet’s teachings accurately. The next generation, known as the Tabi‘un, then learned Hadith directly from the Companions. Many of them traveled far distances just to hear one authentic narration.
As Islam spread quickly, the risk of losing Hadith increased. So, Muslim scholars began compiling Hadith into written collections. One of the first efforts was ordered by Caliph Umar ibn Abdul Aziz. Later on, famous scholars like Imam Malik, Imam Bukhari, and Imam Muslim created the most authentic collections. Imam Bukhari, for example, went through hundreds of thousands of narrations but only included a few thousand after applying very strict rules.
Another major development was the system of Isnad, or chains of narrators. This means that every Hadith had to be traced back through a chain of reliable people who heard it directly. If even one narrator was unreliable, the Hadith was rejected. This unique system protected Hadith from being corrupted.
So students, in conclusion: during the Prophet’s lifetime, Hadith were preserved mainly through memorization and some writing. After his passing, the Companions and later scholars worked tirelessly to preserve them through careful narration, writing, and the isnad system. That’s why today we can open collections like Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim and know that the Hadith we read are authentic and reliable.
To quickly summarize: Hadith were memorized, passed down carefully, written with permission, and later compiled into books using strict checks. This preservation reflects not only the hard work of Muslims but also Allah’s promise to protect His guidance.
