MCQ Detailed View

The first recognized authority for the systematic compilation of Ahadis was Imam Maalik ibn Anas (R.A). He is famously known for compiling the book “Al-Muwatta”, which is considered one of the earliest written collections of Hadith and Islamic jurisprudence.

Imam Maalik (R.A) lived in Madinah, the city of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), and benefited directly from the knowledge of the Tabi‘een (the generation after the Companions). His position in Madinah gave him access to authentic narrations and the practices of the people of Madinah, which were highly regarded in Islamic scholarship.

The book Al-Muwatta contains around 1,720 narrations, including both Ahadis and sayings of the Companions (Sahaba) as well as the opinions of the Tabi‘een. Imam Maalik arranged it in a structured way, combining Hadith with legal rulings, which made it a foundational source for Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence).

Although later compilers like Imam Bukhari (R.A) and Imam Muslim (R.A) became famous for their stricter methods of Hadith authentication, the pioneering effort of Imam Maalik (R.A) is acknowledged as the first formal authority in Hadith compilation. His work paved the way for the great Hadith scholars who came after him.

Key Facts:

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  The first authority for compilation of Ahadis was Imam Maalik ibn Anas (R.A).

  
  


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  His famous book: Al-Muwatta, one of the earliest Hadith collections.

  
  


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  Contains around 1,720 narrations (Hadith + sayings of Sahaba & Tabi‘een).

  
  


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  Imam Maalik lived in Madinah, the center of Hadith transmission.

  
  


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  His work combines Hadith with Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh).

  
  


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  Al-Muwatta became a reference source for later Hadith scholars.