Sahi Muslim facts for kids

Cover of Sahi Muslim

Sahih Muslim (which means "Authentic Muslim" in Arabic) is one of the most important books in Sunni Islam. It is a collection of sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad, known as hadith. Muslims believe these hadith help them understand their religion and how to live their lives.

This book is considered the second most reliable collection of hadith, right after another famous book called Sahih al-Bukhari. Together, these two books are often called Sahihayn, meaning "The Two Authentics." Sahih Muslim was put together by a great scholar named Imam Muslim (his full name was Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj), who lived from 815 to 875 CE.

What is Sahih Muslim?

Sahih Muslim is one of the six main collections of hadith, known as the Kutub al-Sittah. These books are very important for Muslims because they contain teachings and examples from the life of the Prophet Muhammad. They help Muslims understand the Quran and how to practice Islam correctly.

Why is it important?

For Sunni Muslims, Sahih Muslim is a trusted source of religious knowledge. It helps them learn about the Prophet's sunnah (his way of life) and the rules of Islam. Scholars have studied this book for centuries to understand Islamic law and beliefs.

How the Collection Was Made

Imam Muslim spent many years traveling and collecting hadith. He was very careful to make sure that each hadith he included in his book was authentic and reliable.

How many hadith are in it?

Imam Muslim gathered a huge number of hadith, almost 300,000! However, he was very strict about which ones he included in his final book. He only chose about 4,000 hadith that he was sure were true and accurate.

Some scholars say that if you count each unique hadith (without any repetitions), there are around 2,200 in Sahih Muslim. Other scholars, like Muhammad Amin, say there are about 1,400 hadith in Sahih Muslim that are also found in other major hadith collections. This shows how carefully Imam Muslim selected his collection.

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