hadith

noun

ha·​dith hə-ˈdēth 

plural hadith or hadiths also ahadith ˌä-hə-ˈdēth 

often capitalized

1

: a narrative record of the sayings or customs of Muhammad and his companions

2

: the collective body of traditions relating to Muhammad and his companions

Examples of hadith in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Referenced frequently in Islamic tradition and hadith – records of something the Prophet Muhammad said, did or tacitly approved of – it is believed that while in Mecca, Muhammad originally oriented his community’s prayers toward Al-Aqsa. —Ken Chitwood, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2023

Recently, Islamic environmental activists have highlighted the numerous hadith – sayings of the Prophet Muhammad that provide guidance to followers of the faith – that emphasize that Muslims should avoid excess, respect resources and living things, and consume in moderation. —Noorzehra Zaidi, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2023

And yet, despite the availability of resources like the Quran, hadith and law books, quandaries arise in daily life for which none of these provide clear guidance. —Myriam Renaud, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2022

In one hadith, Prophet Muhammad is recorded to have admonished two men who stole chicks from a red sparrow. —Zayna Syed, The Arizona Republic, 26 Dec. 2021

Alongside the Qur’an, Muslims often turn to hadith, records of the traditions or saying of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). —Vanessa Taylor, The New Republic, 23 Apr. 2020

The prophet Muhammad gave this nickname to a famous hadith transmitter and companion, because he was always accompanied by a cat. —Marlo Safi, National Review, 24 Aug. 2019

The hadith, or accounts by the companions of Prophet Muhammad’s thoughts and deeds, supplement the Quran. —Eslah Attar, National Geographic, 12 June 2019

What persists is belief in the holy Quran and the hadiths adjacent to it, and that adherence to these mores and traditions will aid in entering Jannah in the afterlife. —Shamira Ibrahim, Daily Intelligencer, 2 Apr. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Arabic ḥadīth, literally, speech, report

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1