Sunan Abu Dawud (Abu Dawud's Hadith Collection)
One of the six canonical hadith collections in Sunni Islam with a special focus on legal narrations.
Sunan Abu Dawud is one of the six canonical hadith collections (al-Kutub al-Sittah) in Sunni Islam. It was compiled by Imam Abu Dawud Sulayman ibn al-Ash'ath al-Sijistani (817-889 CE) and contains approximately 5,274 hadith selected from 500,000 narrations.
The work has a particular focus on legal narrations (ahadith al-ahkam) and is therefore an invaluable source for Islamic jurisprudence. Abu Dawud organized his collection into 43 books, of which "Kitab al-Salah" (The Book of Prayer) is the most comprehensive.
Imam Abu Dawud was a student of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and traveled to Iraq, Egypt, Syria, and Khorasan to collect narrations. He wrote to the people of Mecca: "I have not included in my book any hadith that there is consensus to reject." His collection is particularly important for detailed descriptions of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) manner of prayer.
Related terms
Hijri (Islamic Calendar)
The Islamic lunar calendar, which begins with the Prophet's migration to Medina.
Ma'ad (Resurrection)
Belief in resurrection and judgment day — the fifth article of faith in Shia Islam.
Hayya ala Khayr al-Amal (Come to the Best of Deeds)
The third exhortation in the Shia adhan: "Come to the best of deeds".
Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah)
Remembrance and glorification of Allah through repetition of sacred phrases.
Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Tirmidhi's Hadith Collection)
One of the six canonical hadith collections, known for its classification of narrations by strength.
Sunan Ibn Majah (Ibn Majah's Hadith Collection)
The sixth of the canonical hadith collections in Sunni Islam with unique narrations.