Sunnah and Hadith

Bismillah irrahman irrahim

Assalamu alaikum

Hadith are strictly the sayings of Sayyidina Muhammad (saw). Now there are different categories of ahadith, for it to be called authentic all the narators should be well known and known to be trustworthy. There are nine or ten major books which mostly scholars say are quite accurate. Now where ever there is an issue of law making only the strongest ahadith are used for that. Any thing with a slightest doubt is not considered. First and foremost source is Holy Quran, if a matter is not found thoroughly in it then ahadith are looked at. Now if there is a contradiction then Holy Quran is the preference.

Saying that a contradiction for a common folk might not be for a scholars. Because some times scholars know the circumstances with that hadith so you need to be quite learned to decide on your own about the authenticity of hadith. Another thing is that with Holy Quran, you cant disagree with it even though you don't understand it. But if you have some sort of doubt about a hadith, then you can overlook it, dont be disrespectful because it could well be saying of the Prophet (saw) and its your understanding which is falling short.

If you looking for hadith collections then this is the online site for four of the major books. http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/searchhadith.html. Imam Malik's muwatta about which is said that it is most authentic book after Holy Quran. There is sahih bukhari and sahih muslim, two most widely used ahadith collections. But again you need to remember you cant draw laws straight from these collection unless and untill you know about the circumstances in which these were said.

Now the sunnah is the acts of the Prophet (saw) along with what he said and where he stayed quite for an act done infront of him. Now laws of shari'a are not derived from sunnah. So scholars of sunnah were not as stingy as scholars of hadith in accepting an act of bieng the act of Prophet (saw). So you see many different school of thoughts having different acts of sunnah in thier worship acts but the fard stays almost same becuase they are derived from strict authentic ahadith.

Now it is possible that there are false ahadith or sunnah out there, so its good to start with the fard and well known. Fill your heart with sincerity and rememberance of Allah swt through Holy Quran. Learn about the laws from where you see no extreme, in any case. Allah swt does give you a sight of heart to seperate the doubtful from the right if you strictly follow his laws which are certain.

May Allah swt guide you to His straight path and to His pleasure, ameen

wassalam

Bismillah irrahman irrahim

Assalamu alaikum

There are few books with commentary but i am afraid all of them are in arabic. As i said its not for a common folk to drive laws out of ahadith. But as i can see you want to learn, i think you should start with Holy Quran and its tafaasir. Most of the issues are explained and the related ahadith are also presented there which explain the true meaning of those ahadith.

Now if you want to learn about the laws of different acts then you have to get some fiqh books. There are quite few good ones available in english these days. There is al-hidayah, which i think is hanafi, then there is reliance of traveler which is shafi', and the distinguished jurists primer which helps you with how different school of thoughts have come up with thier rules but it is written by a maliki scholar.

Ahadith collections are just to learn about what Sayyidina Muhammad (saw) has said in so many words about different things. If you have knowledge of Holy Quran in your heart then thats the next step.

wassalam