1 ahadith | Definition of ahadith

hadith

noun, often capitalized
ha·​dith | \ hÉ™-ˈdÄ“th How to pronounce hadith (audio) \
plural hadith or hadiths or less commonly ahadith\ ˌä-​hÉ™-​ˈdÄ“th How to pronounce ahadith (audio) \

Definition of hadith

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

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, "The American Art of Obsessing over Your Pets," 24 Aug. 2019 The hadith, or accounts by the companions of Prophet Muhammad’s thoughts and deeds, supplement the Quran. Eslah Attar, National Geographic, "The sighting of the new crescent moon marks the start of Ramadan, the most sacred month in Islamic culture.," 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, "The Death and Afterlife of Stephon Clark," 2 Apr. 2018 Because the Quran gives little information about the time and place of its origin, much of the evidence for early Islam has traditionally been drawn from sources like the hadith, the records of the Prophet Muhammad’s words and deeds. Christopher Carroll, WSJ, "The Crescent Rising," 4 Oct. 2017 But while the first text of the Quran was thought to have been compiled not long after the Prophet’s death, the hadith weren’t collected and codified until about two centuries later. Christopher Carroll, WSJ, "The Crescent Rising," 4 Oct. 2017 The practice is outlined in the hadiths, or sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, which are regarded as less authoritative than the Quran but are influential in shaping Islamic doctrine. Jeffrey Gettleman And Suhasini Raj, New York Times, "India’s Supreme Court Strikes Down ‘Instant Divorce’ for Muslims," 22 Aug. 2017 Stray cats are a relatively common sight in cities like Jiddah, and according to some hadiths (accounts of the prophet Muhammad’s teachings), the prophet Muhammad prohibited the killing of cats and took in a stray cat himself. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, "Saudi man arrested for allegedly filming himself killing cats, local media reports," 4 Aug. 2017 The practice is outlined in the hadiths, or sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, which are regarded as less authoritative than the Quran but still influential in shaping Islamic doctrine. Geeta Anand, New York Times, "Muslim Women in India Challenge ‘Instant Divorce’ Law," 28 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hadith.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of hadith

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for hadith

Arabic ḥadīth, literally, speech, report

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More from Merriam-Webster on hadith

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with hadith

Britannica English: Translation of hadith for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hadith