Meaning and examples of Hadeeth Types

12-5-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the difference between the Marfoo‘, Mawqoof, and Maqtoo‘ Hadeeth? Please provide examples of these.
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

Marfoo' Hadeeth (narration) refers to what is attributed to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, including his sayings, actions, tacit approvals, or traits, whether the one who attributed it is a Companion or someone from a later generation, and whether or not the chain of narrators is uninterrupted. This type of Hadeeth is called Marfoo' (i.e. of high rank) because it is attributed to the exalted Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Examples of this type include the saying of a Companion or someone else: "The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said so and so, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did so and so, such and such was done in the presence of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, or the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the best of people."

A Mawqoof Hadeeth, however, refers to what is attributed to a Companion including his sayings, actions, or approvals, whether or not the chain of narrators is uninterrupted. Examples of this type include the narrator's saying, Ali may Allaah be pleased with him said, “Speak to the people in a way that they will understand. Would you want Allaah and His Messenger to be belied?" And, Al-Bukhari may Allaah have mercy upon him when he said, "Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him led people in prayer after he had preformed dry ablution."

Maqtoo' Hadeeth refers to a saying or an action attributed to a Taabi‘i (Follower) or someone from the following generations, whether or not the chain of narrators to the Taabi‘i is uninterrupted. Examples of this type include the saying of Al-Hasan Al-Basri may Allaah have mercy upon him regarding performing prayer behind someone who is guilty of religious innovation, "Pray (behind him) and he will bear (the sin for) his innovation."

Now, the difference between the three types has become clear by defining and giving examples of each of them. It should be noted that what has been mentioned is a brief introduction and the context does not permit more details.

Allaah Knows best.

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