“Moreover, history books and biographies of the Prophet record that the
Companions, next to preserving the Qur’an and its verses, did their best to record and preserve the Messenger’s deeds and words, especially those concerning miracles and Divine Commands, and to confirm their authenticity. They never neglected even an apparently insignificant act or state of the Prophet, as confirmed by the books of
Tradition. While the Prophet was alive, the miracles and
Traditions forming the basis of religious injunctions were written down by many Companions, especially the “Seven ‘Abdullahs,” notably ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (the “Interpreter of the Qur’an”) and ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-As. Some 30 or 40 years later, thousands of Tabi‘un researchers recorded these, and later on the four imams of Islamic jurisprudence and thousands of discerning
Traditionists also would write them down and transmit them. Two centuries after the Prophet’s emigration, the compilers of the six esteemed and most authentic books of
Traditions, at the head of whom are Imam al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim, shouldered the task of preserving the
Traditions. In the meantime, meticulous critics identified false reports produced by unbelievers or careless and ignorant people. In later centuries,
Traditions continued to be distinguished from fabrications and distortions by people of profound learning and such meticulous researchers as Ibn al-Jawzi and Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, who was honored many times while awake with the
presence and conversation of God’s Messenger, as confirmed by those of spiritual realization. Thus the miracles … come down to us through numerous safe and trustworthy hands, for which we thank God, since this is by His grace. No one has the right to doubt their authenticity.”
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