Sifa zote njema ni za Allah, Mola wa viumbe vyote. Rehema na amani ya Allah ziwe juu ya Mtume wetu Muhammad ﷺ, na juu ya familia yake na masahaba zake.

All Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and on his family and companions

Ahadi aliyoitoa Mwenyezi Mungu hapo juu inatimia wazi katika usafi usiopingika wa maandishi ya Qur'ani katika kipindi chote cha karne kumi na nne tangu ilipoteremshwa. Hata hivyo, jambo ambalo mara nyingi huwasahau Waislamu wengi ni kwamba ahadi hiyo ya kimungu pia inajumuisha, kwa lazima, Sunnah ya Mtume Muhammad ﷺ, kwani ndiyo mfano wa vitendo wa utekelezaji wa mwongozo wa Qur'ani, na Hekima aliyofundishwa Mtume ﷺ pamoja na Kitabu; na Qur'ani wala Sunnah haziwezi kueleweka ipasavyo bila kurejea nyingine.

The above promise made by Allah is obviously fulfilled in the undisputed purity of the Qur'anic text throughout the fourteen centuries since its revelation. However, what is often forgotten by many Muslims is that the above divine promise also includes, by necessity, the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), for it is the practical example of the implementation of the Qur'anic guidance, the Wisdom taught to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) along with the Scripture, and neither the Qur'an nor the Sunnah can be understood correctly without recourse to the other.

Hivyo basi, Mwenyezi Mungu aliihifadhi Qur'an isipotee mwanzoni kwa kufa shahidi kwa wale waliokuwa wameihifadhi, kwa kuwaongoza Makhalifa Waongofu, kwa makubaliano ya Maswahaba wa Mtume ﷺ (Mwenyezi Mungu amwadhimishe na amrehemu, na awaridhie wao), kuikusanya aya (ishara, miujiza, "vifungu") za Qur'an kuwa kitabu kimoja, baada ya kuwa zimetawanyika zikiwa zimeandikwa kwenye vitu mbalimbali na zikiwa kumbukumbuni mwa mioyo mingi ya waumini. Aliilinda dhidi ya kupotoshwa na maadui wake: makafiri, wazushi, na manabii wa uongo, kwa kuwawezesha mamilioni ya waumini kuihifadhi kwa urahisi moyoni. Aliyalinda mafundisho yake kwa kusababisha maelfu ya watu wenye elimu kujifunza kutoka katika hazina zake za kina na kuyafikisha kwa umma, na kwa kutuma wafufuaji wa Dini yake mwanzoni mwa kila karne. Vivyo hivyo, Mwenyezi Mungu aliihifadhi Sunnah kwa kuwawezesha Maswahaba na waliokuja baada yao (Mwenyezi Mungu awaridhie) kukariri, kuandika na kupitisha kauli za Mtume ﷺ na maelezo ya mwenendo wake, pamoja na kuendeleza baraka za kuutekeleza Sunnah. Baadaye, usafi wa elimu ya Sunnah ulipotishiwa, Mwenyezi Mungu aliifanya Umma wa Kiislamu kutoa watu bora wenye kumbukumbu za ajabu na ujuzi wa uchambuzi, ambao walisafiri bila kuchoka kukusanya mamia ya maelfu ya Hadith, na kutofautisha maneno ya kweli ya hekima yenye thamani ya Mtume wao ﷺ na yale yaliyoharibiwa na kumbukumbu dhaifu, na na uzushi wa waongo wasio waaminifu, na na kauli za idadi kubwa mno ya wanazuoni, Maswahaba, na wale waliofuata mwenendo wao, ambao walifundisha katika vituo mbalimbali vya elimu na kusaidia kupitisha urithi wa Muhammad ﷺ. Yote haya yalitimizwa kwa umakini mkubwa wa kuzingatia maneno yaliyosimuliwa na ujuzi wa kina wa wasifu wa maelfu ya wasimulizi wa Hadith. Kwa kuwa kitendo ndiyo njia bora zaidi ya kuhifadhi mafundisho, wafufuaji wa Uislamu pia walifufua desturi ya Sunnah safi iliyothibitishwa. Lakini kwa bahati mbaya, kauli zitaendelea kuhusishwa na Mtume ﷺ ingawa anayezinukuu huenda hajui hukumu ambazo wenye elimu ya Hadith wamezitoa kuhusu hadithi hizo. Hivyo, kwa kushangaza, yuko hatarini kukiuka onyo kali la Mtume ﷺ, lililosimuliwa sana, dhidi ya kumhusishia kauli zisizo sahihi au zisizo thabiti. Kwa mfano, hizi ni baadhi ya hadithi zinazonukuliwa sana, ambazo kwa kweli zinatofautiana sana katika kiwango cha uthibitisho wake kutoka kwa Mtume ﷺ.

Hence, Allah preserved the Qur'an from being initially lost by the martyrdom of its memorisers, by guiding the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, endorsed by the consensus of the Messenger's Companions (may Allah bless him and grant him peace and may He be pleased with them), to compile the ayat (signs, miracles, "verses") of the Qur'an into one volume, after these had been scattered in writing on various materials and in memory amongst many faithful hearts. He safeguarded it from corruption by its enemies: disbelievers, heretics, and false prophets, by enabling millions of believers to commit it to memory with ease. He protected its teachings by causing thousands of people of knowledge to learn from its deep treasures and convey them to the masses, and by sending renewers of His Deen at the beginning of every century. Similarly, Allah preserved the Sunnah by enabling the Companions and those after them (may Allah be pleased with them) to memorise, write down and pass on the statements of the Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and the descriptions of his Way, as well as to continue the blessings of practising the Sunnah. Later, as the purity of the knowledge of the Sunnah became threatened, Allah caused the Muslim nation to produce outstanding individuals of incredible memory-skills and analytical expertise, who journeyed tirelessly to collect hundreds of thousands of narrations and distinguish the true words of precious wisdom of their Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) from those corrupted by weak memories, from forgeries by unscrupulous liars, and from the statements of the enormous number of 'ulama', the Companions and those who followed their way, who had taught in various centres of learning and helped to transmit the legacy of Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) - all of this achieved through precise attention to the words narrated and detailed familiarity with the biographies of the thousands of reporters of Hadith. Action being the best way to preserve teachings, the renewers of Islam also revived the practice of the blessed authentic Sunnah. Unfortunately however, statements will continue to be attributed to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) although the person quoting them may have no idea what the people of knowledge of Hadith have ruled regarding those ahadith, thus ironically being in danger of contravening the Prophet's widely-narrated stern warnings about attributing incorrect/unsound statements to him. For example, here are some very commonly-quoted ahadith, which actually vary tremendously in their degree of authenticity from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace):

1. "Suratu al-Ikhlas ina thamani ya theluthi moja ya Qur'ani."

1. "Surah al-Ikhlas is worth a third of the Qur'an.".

2. Hadithi kuhusu Majina Tisini na Tisa ya Allah.

2. The hadith about the Ninety-Name Names of Allah.

3. Allah anasema, "Nilikuwa hazina iliyofichwa, nikapenda kujulikana, basi nikaumba kiumbe (wanadamu), kisha nikajijulisha kwao, nao wakanijua."

3. Allah says, "I was a hidden treasure, and I wished to be known, so I created a creation (mankind), then made Myself known to them, and they recognised Me.".

4. Allah anasema, "Lau si wewe (Ee Muhammad ﷺ), nisingeliumba ulimwengu."

4. Allah says, "Were it not for you (O Muhammad), I would not have created the universe.".

5. Allah alipomaliza kuumba viumbe, aliandika katika Kitabu (kilicho) pamoja Naye, juu ya Kiti Chake cha Enzi, "Hakika Rehema Yangu itashinda Ghadhabu Yangu."

5. When Allah completed creation, He wrote in a Book (which is) with Him, above His Throne, "Verily, My Mercy will prevail over My Wrath.".

6. Allah anasema: "Mbingu Yangu wala ardhi Yangu haviwezi kunijumuisha Mimi, lakini moyo wa mja Wangu muumini unaweza kunijumuisha Mimi."

6. Allah says, "Neither My heaven nor My earth can contain Me, but the heart of My believing slave can contain Me.".

7. "Yeye anayejijua nafsi yake, humjua Mola wake."

7. "He who knows himself, knows his Lord.".

8. "Allah yuko wapi?"

8. "Where is Allah?".

"9. "Kupenda nchi yako ni sehemu ya Imani.""

9. "Love of one's homeland is part of Faith.".

10. "Nimewaachia mambo mawili miongoni mwenu ambayo, mkiyashikilia, hamtapotea kamwe: Kitabu cha Allah, na Sunnah yangu." ﷺ

10. "I have left amongst you two things which, if you hold fast to them, you will never stray: the Book of Allah, and my Sunnah.".

"Nimewaachia kati yenu kitu ambacho mkikishikilia, hamtapotea kamwe: Kitabu cha Allah, na Watu wa Nyumba yangu, Ahlul-Bayt wangu."

11. "I have left among you that which if you abide by, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah, and my Family, the Members of my House.".

12. Hadithi inayowataja kwa majina Masahaba kumi, na kuwapa khabari njema ya Pepo.

12. The hadith giving ten Companions, by name, the good tidings of Paradise.

13. "Kama imani ya Abu Bakr ingepimwa dhidi ya imani ya watu wote wa duniani, ya kwanza ingezidi ya mwisho."

13. "If the iman (faith) of Abu Bakr was weighed against the iman of all the people of the earth, the former would outweigh the latter.".

14. "Mimi ni Mji wa Elimu, na 'Ali ndiye Mlango wake."

14. "I am the City of Knowledge, and 'Ali is its Gate.".

15. "Maswahaba wangu ni kama nyota: yeyote kati yao utakayemfuata, utaongoka."

15. "My companions are like the stars: whichever of them you follow, you will be guided.".

16. "Tofauti miongoni mwa Ummah yangu ni rehema."

16. "The differing amongst my Ummah is a mercy.".

17. "Umma yangu itagawanyika katika madhehebu sabini na tatu: sabini na mbili zitakuwa motoni, na moja peponi."

17. "My Ummah will split up into seventy-three sects: seventy-two will be in the Fire, and one in the Garden.".

18. Unabii kuhusu kuja kwa Mahdi (aliyeongozwa), Dajjal (Masihi wa Uongo, Anti-Christ) na kurudi kwa Yesu Kristo mwana wa Mariamu.

18. Prophecies about the coming of the Mahdi (the guided one), Dajjal (the False Christ, the Anti-Christ) and the return of Jesus Christ son of Mary.

19. Maelezo ya adhabu na neema katika kaburi, kwa watu waovu na watu wema kwa mtiririko huo.

19. Description of punishment and bliss in the grave, for the wicked and pious people respectively.

20. Shafaa'a ya Mtume (ﷺ) na waumini kumuona Mwenyezi Mungu, Siku ya Kiyama.

20. Intercession by the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and the believers seeing Allah, on the Day of Judgment.

21. "Pepo iko chini ya miguu ya mama."

21. "Paradise is under the feet of mothers.".

"Pepo iko chini ya kivuli cha panga."

22. "Paradise is under the shade of swords.".

23. "Kutafuta elimu ni faradhi kwa kila Muslim."

23. "Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim.".

24. "Tafuta elimu, hata kama itakubidi usafiri hadi China."

24. "Seek knowledge, even if you have to go to China.".

25. "Wino wa mwanazuoni ni mtakatifu zaidi kuliko damu ya shahidi."

25. "The ink of the scholar is holier than the blood of the martyr.".

26. "Tumerejea kutoka Jihadi ndogo kwenda Jihadi kubwa (yaani, kupambana na uovu wa nafsi ya mtu)."

26. "We have returned from the lesser Jihad to the greater Jihad (i.e. the struggle against the evil of one's soul).".

Mbinu ya wataalamu wa Hadith katika kuchunguza simulizi kama hizo, na kutofautisha zilizo sahihi na zile zilizokosewa, zilizobuniwa, n.k., ni mada inayoelezwa katika kazi nyingi kubwa zilizoachwa kwetu na wanazuoni wa Hadith (muhaddithun, "wanahadith"). Risala hii fupi ni juhudi ndogo ya kuutambulisha mada hii pana kwa wasomaji wa Kiingereza. Mwandishi amenufaika sana na kazi bora ya kielimu katika fani hii, Muqaddimah Ibn al-Salah. Maelezo mafupi ya hukumu za wataalamu wa fani hii kuhusu Hadith hizo hapo juu yametolewa katika Kiambatisho.

The methodology of the expert scholars of Hadith in assessing such narrations and sorting out the genuine from the mistaken/fabricated etc., forms the subject-matter of a wealth of material left to us by the muhaddithun (scholars of Hadith, "traditionists"). This short treatise is a humble effort to introduce this extremely wide subject to English readers. The author has derived great benefit from the outstanding scholarly work in this field, Muqaddimah Ibn al- Salah. A brief explanation of the verdicts from the experts in this field on the above ahadith is given in the Appendix.

Tunamuomba Allah ayakubali kazi hii, na aifanye kuwa na manufaa kwa wasomaji wake.

We ask Allah to accept this work, and make it beneficial to its readers.