Date:28/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/28/stories/2008022854251100.htm

Opinion - News Analysis

Hadith: their influence and what they relate

Riazat Butt

The Hadith are narrations of the life of the prophet Muhammad and his companions and are considered an important source of material on religious practice, law, history and biography. Hadith relate what the prophet said, did or liked.

Most Muslims consider the Hadith to be an essential addition to and clarification of the Koran.

In Islamic jurisprudence the holy book contains guidelines about the behaviour expected from Muslims but there are no specific rules on many matters.

Hadith influence around 90 per cent of sharia, or Islamic law, and the most controversial ones concern the violent punishments meted out to adulterers and apostates, the role and treatment of women and jihad.