Islamiyat · Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 21 · Question 2

Write an account of why it is important to know and act upon the Hadiths of the Prophet (pbuh).

Mark according to the marking grid for AO1 – Knowledge on page 5. Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.

It could be said that the Prophet’s Hadiths are an important source of explaining the Qur’an and expanding on the brief teachings given in it. The Qur’an, for example, stresses the need to offer prayers but it is the Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh) that tells Muslims how to perform salat and what to read in it. How to pay zakat, and how to perform hajj are all found in the Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh).

Hadiths are also a source of sharia law after the Qur’an. The Prophet (pbuh) laid down principles of law in his Hadiths regarding all aspects of law i.e. trading, marriage, or inheritance.

Candidates can develop their answer by giving examples of how knowing the Prophetic Hadiths helps them in the understanding of their faith and living their lives according to the principles of Islam. The importance of knowing Hadiths can also be determined by the fact that the two secondary sources of law making in Islam, ijma and qiyas, rely on the guidance given in the Hadiths to make laws. Examples of ijma and qiyas could be given here to showcase their importance in the lives of Muslims.

The importance of following the Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh) lies in the fact that God Himself asks Muslims to follow the Prophet’s sunna. The Qur’an says, ‘Obey Allah and obey the Prophet’ [64:12]. By knowing and acting upon the Hadith of the Prophet (pbuh), Muslims hope to walk the path of righteousness.

In your opinion, why is it necessary to classify Hadiths into categories? Give reasons to support your answer.

Mark according to the marking grid for AO2 – Understanding on page 5.

Answers may include some of the following ideas, but all valid material must be credited.

It is necessary to classify Hadiths into categories because it helps Muslims follow the guidance of the Prophet (pbuh) in their everyday lives by showing them the correct way of putting their faith into practice. If the Hadiths were not classified according to their authenticity there would be a danger of Muslims not knowing the correct way of putting their faith into practice.

It is also imperative to classify Hadiths for the purposes of law-making. In legal matters it is vital to use only the most accurate Hadiths. For example, only Sahih Hadiths are used in establishing Islamic law because it is critical that their reliability is beyond question.