What is the Difference Between Hadith and Quran?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The Quran and Hadith are both important religious texts in Islam, but they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics. The main differences between the Quran and Hadith are:
- Nature of the text: The Quran is considered to be the word of God, revealed to Prophet Muhammad, and is regarded as the ultimate source of Islamic Shariah. On the other hand, Hadith is a collection of narratives about the life, actions, and sayings of Prophet Muhammad, written long after his passing, and classified by varying degrees of authenticity.
- Authenticity: The Quran is viewed as an authentic and faultless word of Allah, while Hadith is a human compilation of the sayings and teachings of Prophet Muhammad.
- Timeline: The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years, while Hadith was compiled after his passing, by different scholars with varying abilities and memories.
- Purpose: The Quran serves as the foundation of the Islamic faith and provides guidance for Muslims. Hadith, on the other hand, is used to interpret Islamic jurisprudence and understand the context of the Quran.
- Content: The Quran contains the exact words of Allah, whereas Hadith contains the sayings, actions, and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, as well as reports of his silent approval of certain actions.
In summary, the Quran is the holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of God, while Hadith is a collection of narratives about Prophet Muhammad's life and teachings. Both texts serve important roles in Islam, but they differ in their nature, authenticity, timeline, purpose, and content.
Comparative Table: Hadith vs Quran
Here is a table comparing the differences between the Quran and Hadith:
| Feature | Quran | Hadith |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The Quran is the holy book of Islam, considered to be the word of God revealed to Prophet Muhammad. | Hadith is a collection of sayings, actions, and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, not believed to be the word of God. |
| Origin | Believed to be a divine revelation from God to Prophet Muhammad. | Hadith is derived from the sayings, actions, and tacit approvals of Prophet Muhammad, recorded by different scholars. |
| Language | Revealed in Arabic. | Written in Arabic, but not a divine revelation like the Quran. |
| Format | In rhythmical form. | Not in rhythmical form; Hadiths are written as narrations or reports. |
| Authority | Considered superior to Hadith; if a verse in Hadith contradicts the Quran, the Quran is considered the authority. | Hadith is used to interpret Islamic jurisprudence, but it is not considered superior to the Quran. |
| Chronology | The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad and compiled during his lifetime. | Hadith was written later than the Quran by different scholars with varying abilities and memories. |
In summary, the Quran is believed to be the word of God and is considered the foundation of the Islamic faith, while the Hadith is a collection of sayings and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, used to interpret Islamic jurisprudence. The Quran is considered superior to the Hadith in terms of authority.