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How do I know if a hadith is authentic?

The hadith scholars built a science around this question. Every hadith is graded — ṣaḥīḥ (sound), ḥasan (good), ḍaʿīf (weak), mawḍūʿ (fabricated) — based on specific criteria applied to its chain and text.

10 passages from 7 books in the library

The hadith scholars built an entire science of grading: every report is classed as ṣaḥīḥ (sound), ḥasan (good), ḍaʿīf (weak), or mawḍūʿ (fabricated). Across the cited works, al-Ghazali consistently anchors reports by naming where they sit — "the authentic hadith in Sahih Muslim and Sahih al-Bukhari" — and marks others as "Hasan Sahih, good and authentic." These labels signal the strength of a report's chain and text. Ibn Battuta even records visiting in Bukhara the grave of al-Bukhari, "author of the Sahih collection, the Sheikh of Muslims."

Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.

Where the answer comes from

The classical approach.

These passages are drawn from 7 books by Imam al-Ghazali and Ibn Kathir — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.

Read them closely. If a passage doesn't sit right, open the full book in the library and listen to the chapter around it. Context in the classical tradition is everything.

Cover of Book 28: Condemnation of Status and Showing Off
Book 28: Condemnation of Status and Showing Off
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din

11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali → · Provenance →

  1. "Sa'id thought to himself that he would test Hasan to see if al-Hajjaj's presence would cause Hasan to speak more to endear himself or speak less out of awe. However, Hasan spoke as he always did until he concluded. When Hasan finished, indifferent to al-Hajjaj’s presence, al-Hajjaj raised his hand, struck Hasan’s shoulder, and said, 'The Sheikh is truthful and virtuous."

  2. "but when his brother is sent to fight, he goes hungry and on foot. Hasan did not relent in his criticism until he had reminded them of their gravest and most severe faults. A man from Syria who was sitting with Hasan then went to al-Hajjaj and reported Hasan's words to him. It was not long before emissaries from al-Hajjaj came to Hasan and said, "The governor summons you."

  3. "Sa'id continued, 'I also moved aside, leaving space for al-Hajjaj to sit. Al-Hajjaj sat between me and Hasan.' Hasan continued speaking as usual, without interruption. Sa'id thought to himself that he would test Hasan to see if al-Hajjaj's presence would cause Hasan to speak more to endear himself or speak less out of awe."

  4. "It was not long before emissaries from al-Hajjaj came to Hasan and said, "The governor summons you. Hasan stood up, and we grew anxious for him due to the severity of his words. However, Hasan shortly returned to his seat, smiling, for he rarely did so with his mouth open in laughter, usually just smiling. He addressed us and magnified the trust, saying, "You sit with us in trust, as if you suppose that betrayal exists only in dinars and dirhams."

Cover of Book 12: Book of Marriage
Book 12: Book of Marriage
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din

11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali → · Provenance →

  1. "and peace with them, then it is good. Otherwise, it is advised for him to consider replacing them. Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, married seven nights after the passing of Fatima, peace be upon her. It is said that Hasan ibn Ali was known for having many marriages, with over two hundred wives. He sometimes married four at once and divorced four at once, then replaced them. The Prophet, Peace be upon him, said to Hasan, You resemble my disposition and character. The Prophet also said, Hasan is from me and Husayn is from Ali. Hasan's numerous marriages were seen as resembling"

Cover of Book 16: Etiquettes of Seclusion
Book 16: Etiquettes of Seclusion
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din

11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali → · Provenance →

  1. "What prevents you from spending time with people? He replied, "A matter keeps me busy from the people. Al-Hasan asked, "What prevents you from coming to this man called Al-Hasan and sitting with him? The man answered, "A matter keeps me busy from the people and from Al-Hasan. Al-Hasan then inquired, "What is this preoccupation, may Allah have mercy on you?"

Cover of Book 33: Fear and Hope
Book 33: Fear and Hope
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din

11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali → · Provenance →

  1. "Al-Hasan once passed by a young man laughing among a group. Al-Hasan asked him, "Young man, have you crossed the path? He replied, "No. Al-Hasan asked, "Do you know whether you will end up in Paradise or Hell? He replied, "No. Al-Hasan said, "Then why do you laugh? Afterward, the young man was never seen laughing again."

Cover of The Story of Adam
The Story of Adam
Ibn Kathir · Stories of the Prophets

14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir → · Provenance →

  1. "them to your son David? So Adam denied, and thus his offspring denied. Adam forgot, and thus his offspring forgot. Adam made a mistake, and thus his offspring made mistakes. This is a Hasan Sahih hadith. It has been narrated from different angles, from Abu Huraira, from the Prophet, peace be upon him. Al-Hakim also narrated it in his Al-Mustadrak, stating it is sahih according to the criteria of Muslim, though it was not included. Ibn Abi Hatim narrated from Abdurrahman ibn Zayd ibn Islam, from his father, from Atta ibn Yasir, from Abu Huraira, in an elevated form."

Cover of Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā
Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā
Ibn Kathir · Al-Bidāya wal-Nihāya

14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir → · Provenance →

  1. "The Almighty's statement, and the sun runs on a fixed course for it, that is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing, further supports this understanding. This hadith is narrated in various collections, including Sahih Muslim and others, with similar wording. Al-Tirmidhi classified it as Hasan Sahih. The hadith in question does not contradict the idea of the rotation of the heavenly spheres, which are the heavens, according to the most well-known opinion."

Cover of Book 11: Book of Etiquettes of Eating
Book 11: Book of Etiquettes of Eating
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din

11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali → · Provenance →

  1. "If not, permission must be sought first before entering. Muhammad ibn Wasi’ and his companions used to enter Al-Hasan's residence and eat what they found without permission. Al-Hasan would enter, see what they did, become pleased, and say, "This is how we were." It is narrated from Al-Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, that he was standing eating from the wares of a merchant in the market, taking a date from one basket and a fig from another."

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