Hadith vs Quran: Difference and Comparison

When discussing Islam, it is impossible to discuss the Quran without addressing the Hadith. It’s as if these two are inseparable, even if they aren’t completely interchangeable.

One would be considered the “finest piece of literature” within Arabic, while the other is an important instrument for comprehending Allah’s precise words.

Those two formed an important aspect of a Muslim’s existence as he strived to attain his halcyon days over time. Even in the darkest of circumstances, these two never fail to bring a smile to your face.

Key Takeaways

1. The Quran is considered the holy book of Islam, while the Hadith is a collection of sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad.
2. The Quran is believed to be the direct word of God, while the Hadith is a human interpretation of the Prophet’s teachings.
3. The Quran is considered the ultimate source of authority in Islam, while the Hadith is consulted to provide context and clarification.

Hadith vs Quran

Hadith is a collection of traditions containing sayings of the prophet Muhammad which, with accounts of his daily practice (the Sunna), constitute the primary source of guidance for Muslims apart from the Koran. Muslims believe that the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, was revealed to Muhammad over twenty-three years, starting with the initial revelation at Mount Hira. 

The Hadith is a one-of-a-kind piece of writing in a one-of-a-kind container. The writings are entirely based on Muhammad’s words and deeds and serve as a valuable aid for better understanding the Quran.

The Prophet clarified the discrepancy, stating that the Hadith consisted solely of his own words, whilst the Quran mostly comprised of Allah’s own words. Muslims highly regard this work.

Its believers consider the Quran to be the exact words of the true God Allah, which were given to his Prophet Muhammad 22 years, beginning so when the

Prophet completed his 40th year underneath the sun and continued when he reached his final summer.

Because the words of Great God Allah are indeed chronicled in the Quran, this sacred literature established Muhammad’s prophethood.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Hadith	Quran
Definition	It is the saying of the prophet.	It is the sayings of Allah to the prophet.
Islamic Shariah	It is the second source.	It is the first source.
Importance	It is not recited in the Salah.	It is an integral part of prayers.
Recitation	Its recitation is not rewardable	Its recitation earns a reward to Muslims.
Authenticity	It is classified according to the degree of authenticity	It is authentic and inimitable.

What is Hadith?

In Islam, Hadith or Athar relates to what a percentage of Muslims think to be a record of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad’s statements, deeds, and quiet approbation as passed via chains of narratives.

In those words, the Hadith are tales of what Muhammad had said that were passed down through the generations.

Every report is indeed a piece of data concerning Muhammad, as Emad Hamdeh reminds out; whenever these data points are gathered, they form a bigger image known as the Sunnah.

Hadith has indeed been regarded as “the foundation” of Islamic civilization, and its authority as just a source of religious law & moral instruction is equal to only the Quran inside Islam.

Holy Quran, which forbids Muslims should emulate Muhammad & accept his judgments, is regarded among most Muslims as having scriptural validity for Hadith.

Whereas the Quran has a limited handful of verses dealing with legislation, Hadith guide everything from religious requirements to proper salutations and the necessity of compassion to enslaved people.

As a result, instead of the Quran, the “vast bulk” of Sharia’s precepts was derived through Hadith.

Sunni Muslims use the term hadith to refer to not only Muhammad’s statements, counsel, and practices but those of his associates.

Hadith, or the words & deeds of Muhammad as well as his family, as Ahl al-Bayt, are indeed the epitome of the Sunnah in Shia Islam.

What is Quran?

Holy Quran represents Islam’s central holy text, which Muslims consider a divine revelation. It is recognized as the finest masterpiece of traditional Arabic writing.

Muslims think that God orally disclosed the Quran to Muhammad, their ultimate prophet, through to the archangel Gabriel, for more than 23 years, beginning within Ramadan month,

while Muhammad was 40, & ending in 632, the year of his death.

Muslims consider the Holy Quran to be Muhammad’s greatest marvel, as well as evidence of his prophethood as well as the completion of a sequence of divine teachings

that began with those given to Adam,, including the Tawrah, Zabur, and Injil.

Muslims believe that the Quran is God’s accurate word, not even inspired by God. Muhammad won’t publish it since he couldn’t write.

A few of Muhammad’s followers are said to have functioned as writers, documenting the revelations. Holy Quran was assembled by the followers shortly after the prophet’s demise, who wrote down or memorized sections of it.

Caliph Uthman established a clear version of both the Quran, currently regarded as the Uthmanic codex, which would be widely considered the template of the modern Quran.

There are, however, different interpretations, most of which have slight changes in connotation.

Main Differences Between Hadith and Quran

1. Holy Quran is Allah’s word given to a Messenger in its exact phrasing and meaning, whereas Hadith are the Prophet’s sayings inspired by Allah.
2. The Quran is the primary source of Islamic Shariah, whereas Hadith is the secondary source.
3. In Swalah, the recitation of the Quran is an essential aspect of prayer, although Hadith is not.
4. The Quran is unique and authentic, but Hadith is divided into four categories based on their degree of authenticity: Sahih, Dhaif, Hassan, and Maudhu.
5. Recitation of the Quran earns a Muslim reward, whereas the understanding of Hadith, rather than recitation, earns a reward.

References

1. https://turcomat.org/index.php/turkbilmat/article/view/4790
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319157818312187