A Pillar of Hadith Literature

Introduction
Sahih Muslim is one of the most authoritative collections of Hadith in Sunni Islam, compiled by Imam Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj al-Naysaburi (c. 822–875 CE). Alongside Sahih al-Bukhari, it forms the Sahihayn—the two most authentic Hadith compilations recognized by Sunni scholars.

About the Compiler

• Full Name: Abū al-Ḥusayn Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj al-Qushayrī al-Naysābūrī
• Birthplace: Nishapur, in present-day Iran
• Scholarly Lineage: Student of Imam Bukhari; shared many teachers with him
• Methodology: Known for his rigorous standards in verifying narrators and chains of transmission (isnad)

Structure and Content

• Total Hadiths: ~7,395 (including repetitions); ~3,033 without repetitions
• Books: Divided into 56 thematic books, covering:
  • Faith (Iman)
  • Purification (Taharah)
  • Prayer (Salah)
  • Fasting (Sawm)
  • Zakat, Hajj, Transactions, Ethics, Judiciary, and more
• Format: Musannaf style—organized by topic rather than narrator

Methodology and Criteria
Imam Muslim applied a three-tier classification of narrators:

• Top-tier: Strong memory, impeccable character, trustworthy
• Middle-tier: Slightly weaker memory but still reliable
• Bottom-tier: Disputed honesty or weak memory—excluded from the collection
  He only accepted Hadiths with:
  • Unbroken chains of narration
  • Multiple corroborating routes through trustworthy narrators
  • Clear textual consistency and absence of contradiction

Scholarly Reception

• Sunni Consensus: Regarded as the second most authentic Hadith book after Sahih al-Bukhari
• Shafi‘i and Hanbali Schools: Extensively cite Sahih Muslim in jurisprudence
• Ibn al-Salah: Declared it among the most authentic books after the Qur’an