Sample Quizzes For Preparation: The History of the Compilation of the Hadith
Quiz – The History and Importance of the Hadiths (History of Compilation)
1. What is the linguistic meaning of the Arabic word “Hadith”?
A. Story or report
B. Poem or rhyme
C. Law or judgement
D. History or biography
2. In Islamic terms, what does “Hadith” refer to?
A. Only the Prophet’s sayings
B. The Qur’an’s verses
C. Sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet (pbuh)
D. Stories of previous prophets
3. Which term refers to the Prophet’s practical way of life, as recorded in Hadith?
A. Fiqh
B. Sunnah
C. Tafsir
D. Seerah
4. Why did the Prophet (pbuh) initially discourage writing down Hadith?
A. To prevent mixing with the Qur’an
B. Because Arabs could not write
C. Because Hadith were not important
D. To keep Islam secret
5. Which companion is known for keeping a written collection called Al-Sahifah al-Sadiqah?
A. Abu Hurairah (RA)
B. Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (RA)
C. Zayd ibn Thabit (RA)
D. Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA)
6. Who narrated the largest number of Hadith?
A. Abu Hurairah (RA)
B. Aisha (RA)
C. Anas ibn Malik (RA)
D. Abdullah ibn Umar (RA)
7. What was the main method of Hadith preservation during the Prophet’s lifetime?
A. Printing books
B. Oral memorisation
C. Stone inscriptions
D. Translation
8. Who were the first generation to transmit Hadith after the Prophet’s death?
A. Tabi‘un
B. Sahabah
C. Tabi‘ al-Tabi‘in
D. Caliphs
9. Which caliph officially ordered the collection of Hadith across the Muslim world?
A. Umar ibn al-Khattab
B. Umar ibn Abdul Aziz
C. Uthman ibn Affan
D. Ali ibn Abi Talib
10. What was the main reason Umar ibn Abdul Aziz ordered Hadith compilation?
A. To create poetry
B. Fear of loss of Hadith and death of scholars
C. To translate into Persian
D. To replace Qur’an study
11. Which scholar is considered among the first to systematically collect Hadith under caliphal orders?
A. Imam Malik
B. Imam Bukhari
C. Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri
D. Imam Muslim
12. What is the name of Imam Malik’s early Hadith collection?
A. Sahih al-Bukhari
B. Al-Muwatta
C. Sunan Abu Dawud
D. Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
13. What does the term isnad mean in Hadith sciences?
A. The text of the Hadith
B. The chain of narrators
C. The meaning of Hadith
D. The classification of Hadith
14. What does the term matn mean?
A. Biography of a narrator
B. Chain of narrators
C. Text/content of Hadith
D. Type of Hadith
15. Which of these is NOT one of the six major Hadith books (Kutub al-Sittah)?
A. Sahih al-Bukhari
B. Sahih Muslim
C. Sunan al-Darimi
D. Sunan Ibn Majah
16. Which Hadith book is considered the most authentic after the Qur’an?
A. Sahih Muslim
B. Sahih al-Bukhari
C. Sunan Abu Dawud
D. Al-Muwatta
17. Approximately how many Hadith did Imam Bukhari include without repetition in his Sahih?
A. 1,000
B. 2,600
C. 6,000
D. 10,000
18. Which scholar was a student of Imam Bukhari and compiled another authentic Hadith collection?
A. Imam Malik
B. Imam Muslim
C. Imam Tirmidhi
D. Imam Nasa’i
19. Which Hadith collection focuses heavily on legal matters and rulings?
A. Sunan Abu Dawud
B. Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
C. Sahih Muslim
D. Al-Muwatta
20. What is the science of criticising and accrediting narrators called?
A. Tafsir
B. Jarh wa Ta‘dil
C. Fiqh
D. Ulum al-Qur’an
21. Which category of Hadith means “authentic”?
A. Hasan
B. Da‘if
C. Sahih
D. Mawdu‘
22. Which category of Hadith means “fabricated”?
A. Mawdu‘
B. Da‘if
C. Hasan
D. Sahih
23. What was one of the major reasons for fabricating Hadith?
A. To encourage learning
B. Political and sectarian motives
C. To explain Qur’an
D. To preserve Sunnah
24. What is the term for the second generation of Muslims after the Sahabah?
A. Tabi‘un
B. Tabi‘ al-Tabi‘in
C. Muhajirun
D. Ansar
25. Which early Hadith compilation combined Hadith with the opinions of companions and successors?
A. Sahih al-Bukhari
B. Al-Muwatta
C. Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
D. Sunan al-Nasa’i
26. What is the primary purpose of Hadith in relation to the Qur’an?
A. Replace it
B. Explain and demonstrate it
C. Shorten it
D. Translate it
27. Which companion narrated over 5,000 Hadith?
A. Abu Hurairah (RA)
B. Abdullah ibn Umar (RA)
C. Aisha (RA)
D. Anas ibn Malik (RA)
28. What does the term Kutub al-Sittah refer to?
A. The six major books of Hadith
B. Six volumes of the Qur’an
C. Six pillars of Islam
D. Six schools of law
29. Which Hadith collector travelled extensively to verify chains of narration and rejected thousands of weak reports?
A. Imam Malik
B. Imam Muslim
C. Imam Bukhari
D. Imam Abu Dawud
30. Why is Hadith study still important for Muslims today?
A. It’s only of historical interest
B. It provides guidance in worship, law, and morals
C. It is only needed by scholars
D. It is a replacement for the Qur’an
Answer key and explanations
1. Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Linguistically, Hadith means “speech,” “narrative,” or “report.”
2. Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Hadith includes sayings, actions, approvals, and descriptions of the Prophet (pbuh).
3. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Sunnah is the Prophet’s way of life, recorded in Hadith.
4. Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The Prophet initially discouraged writing to prevent confusion with Qur’anic text.
5. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As had the written collection Al-Sahifah al-Sadiqah.
6. Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Abu Hurairah narrated more than 5,000 Hadith.
7. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Oral memorisation was the main preservation method.
8. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Sahabah were the first generation to transmit Hadith after the Prophet’s death.
9. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Caliph Umar ibn Abdul Aziz initiated formal Hadith collection.
10. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: He feared the death of scholars would cause loss of Hadith.
11. Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri compiled Hadith on Umar ibn Abdul Aziz’s orders.
12. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Imam Malik’s book Al-Muwatta is an early Hadith collection.
13. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Isnad is the chain of narrators.
14. Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Matn is the text or content of the Hadith.
15. Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Sunan al-Darimi is respected but not one of the six canonical books.
16. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Sahih al-Bukhari is the most authentic book after the Qur’an.
17. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Imam Bukhari’s Sahih contains ~2,600 Hadith without repetition.
18. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Imam Muslim was a student of Imam Bukhari.
19. Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Sunan Abu Dawud focuses heavily on legal rulings.
20. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Jarh wa Ta‘dil is the science of narrator criticism/accreditation.
21. Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Sahih means “authentic.”
22. Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Mawdu‘ means fabricated.
23. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Political and sectarian motives caused some to fabricate Hadith.
24. Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Tabi‘un are the generation after Sahabah.
25. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Al-Muwatta includes Hadith and early legal opinions.
26. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Hadith explains and demonstrates the Qur’an’s commands.
27. Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Abu Hurairah narrated the most Hadith.
28. Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Kutub al-Sittah are the six major Hadith books.
29. Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Imam Bukhari rejected thousands of weak reports after verification.
30. Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Hadith gives guidance in law, worship, and moral life.