Chapter 03
Hadith Sciences & Companions
Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim, the Six Authentic Books (Kutub al-Sittah), Khulafa-e-Rashideen, Ashra-e-Mubashshara.
Full Chapter Notes
Source · FPSC Trap Decoder · CSS MPT Smart Notes (2026 Edition)
3.1 Context
Section A | Islamic Studies | 5 Marks | 5 MCQs | Past Paper Frequency: HIGH — tested in 3 of 4 papers.
High-Yield Snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| MPT marks | 5 |
| MCQ target | 5 |
| Difficulty | Low–Medium |
| Past paper frequency | 3 of 4 papers |
Past Paper Concentration
| Year | Focus |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Indirect — Hadith classification context |
| 2023 | 3 Qs — Sahifa, companion titles, Asad-ullah |
| 2024 | 0 direct Hadith Qs |
| 2025 | 4 Qs — Marfu, Sunnat Khair, Zaid bin Thabit, companion titles |
Trend alert: 2025 introduced Hadith classification terminology for the first time — specifically the Marfu category. FPSC is moving toward Hadith Sciences depth, not just collection names. Prepare both collections AND classification.
3.2 Topic Foundation
This chapter sits at the intersection of Hadith Sciences and Companion roles. FPSC tests three zones: Hadith collections (the six books of Siha-e-Sitta, their compilers, titles); Hadith classification (Marfu, Mauqoof, Maqtu, Qudsi); and companion roles (titles, firsts, specific acts).
The examiner's approach is precise name-matching. Four options will each be a plausible companion name. The question separates those who know the exact association from those who guess. In 2023, FPSC asked "Asad-ullah belongs to whom?" with Ali, Hamza, Saad, Khalid as options. Three of the four are famous companions. The answer was Hamza.
3.3 The Six Books of Hadith (Siha-e-Sitta)
Siha-e-Sitta means "the six authentic books." These are the most authoritative Hadith collections in Sunni Islam.
| # | Book Title | Compiler | Compiler's Title | FPSC Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sahih Bukhari | Imam Muhammad al-Bukhari | Amir-ul-Momineen fil Hadith | Highest authentic — tested most |
| 2 | Sahih Muslim | Imam Muslim bin Hajjaj | — | Second most authentic |
| 3 | Sunan Abu Dawood | Imam Abu Dawood al-Sijistani | — | Focus on legal Hadith |
| 4 | Jami at-Tirmidhi | Imam al-Tirmidhi | — | Also called Al-Jami al-Sahih |
| 5 | Sunan an-Nasa'i | Imam Ahmad al-Nasa'i | — | Strict on narrator chains |
| 6 | Sunan Ibn Majah | Imam Ibn Majah al-Qazwini | — | Smallest of the six — added later |
3.4 Other Major Hadith Works
| Book | Compiled By | FPSC Note |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Muwatta | Imam Malik bin Anas (R.A) | Oldest surviving Hadith collection — Imam Malik titled Imam-e-Dar-ul-Hijrat |
| Kitaab-ul-Aathaar | Imam Abu Hanifa (R.A) | Earliest Hanafi Hadith compilation |
| Musnad Ahmad | Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (R.A) | Largest Hadith compilation — over 27,000 Hadiths |
| Sahifa-e-Ahadith (Sahifa Hammam) | Hammam bin Munabbih (R.A) | FIRST written Hadith compilation — dictated by Abu Huraira — tested 2023 |
| Sunnat Khair-ul-Anam | Peer Muhammad Karam Shah Al-Azhari | Seerah and Hadith text — author tested 2025 |
3.5 Hadith Classification: Technical Terms
FPSC tested Hadith classification for the first time in 2025. The 2025 question asked what a Hadith that "extends up to the Prophet (PBUH)" is called. The answer is Marfu — but it was listed as "Maroof" in the options, making the correct answer D — None of these.
| Term | Arabic Root | What It Means + FPSC Application |
|---|---|---|
| Marfu | Elevated / raised up | Chain traces back to the Prophet (PBUH) directly. Most authoritative. Tested 2025 — FPSC wrote "Maroof" as a distractor. |
| Mauqoof | Stopped / paused | Chain stops at a Companion (Sahabi). Does not reach the Prophet. |
| Maqtu | Cut off | Chain reaches only to a Tabi'i. Weakest of the three main chains. |
| Qudsi | Sacred / divine | Words attributed to Allah but not part of the Quran. Narrated by Prophet in Allah's voice. |
| Sahih | Authentic / sound | Highest grade of authenticity. Bukhari and Muslim = Sahihayn. |
| Hasan | Good | Slightly below Sahih — narrator trustworthy but memory slightly weaker. |
| Da'if | Weak | Broken or unreliable chain. Not used for legal rulings. |
| Mutawatir | Mass-transmitted | Narrated by so many in each generation that fabrication is impossible. |
3.6 Companions: Titles, Roles & Firsts
| Title / Role / First | Companion | FPSC Note |
|---|---|---|
| Asad-ullah (Lion of Allah) | Hazrat Hamza (R.A) | Tested 2023 — Hazrat Ali also has 'Lion of Allah' (Sher-e-Khuda in Urdu). Asad-ullah specifically = Hamza. |
| Sher-e-Khuda (Lion of Allah — Urdu) | Hazrat Ali (R.A) | Ali's title in Urdu/Persian. Hamza's is Asad-ullah in Arabic. |
| Saif-ullah (Sword of Allah) | Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (R.A) | Title given by Prophet (PBUH) after Battle of Mota. |
| Ameen-ul-Ummat (Trustee of the Nation) | Hazrat Abu Ubaida bin Al-Jarrah (R.A) | Do not confuse with Amin (Atique) of Abu Bakr. |
| Atique (Freed from hellfire) | Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) | Also titled As-Siddiq (the truthful). |
| Farooq (Distinguisher of truth and falsehood) | Hazrat Umar (R.A) | Title given by Prophet (PBUH). First to declare conversion openly. |
| Ghani (The Generous) | Hazrat Usman (R.A) | Spent enormous wealth for Islam. Also the first Hafiz of the Quran. |
| Gateway to knowledge / Bab-ul-Ilm | Hazrat Ali (R.A) | Prophet said "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate." |
| Siddiqa (The Truthful — female form) | Hazrat Aisha (R.A) | Narrated 2,210 Hadiths — most by any woman companion. |
| Umm-ul-Masakeen (Mother of the Poor) | Hazrat Zainab bint Khuzima (R.A) | Title given for her generosity to the poor. |
| First Sahabi to die | Hazrat Asad (R.A) | Not to be confused with Asad-ullah (Hamza's title). |
| First Muslim among slaves | Hazrat Zaid bin Harith (R.A) | Adopted son of the Prophet — first freed slave to accept Islam. |
| First Dervish of Islam | Hazrat Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (R.A) | Known for extreme asceticism. |
| Only Sahabi who never saw Prophet | Awais Karni (R.A) | Technically a Tabi'i — could not meet Prophet due to care for his mother. |
| Compiled Quran under Abu Bakr (wrote it) | Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit (R.A) | Tested 2025 — "who compiled during Abu Bakr's caliphate?" Answer: Zaid bin Thabit. |
| Held original Mus'haf of Abu Bakr | Hazrat Hafsah (R.A) | Daughter of Umar, wife of Prophet — kept the first compiled copy. |
| First to write down Wahi | Hazrat Khalid bin Saeed bin Al-Aas (R.A) | Not to be confused with Zaid bin Thabit who compiled it later. |
| Narrated most Hadiths overall | Hazrat Abu Huraira (R.A) | Over 5,000 Hadiths. Sahifa-e-Ahadith was dictated by him. |
| Narrated most Hadiths — female companion | Hazrat Aisha (R.A) | 2,210 Hadiths. |
3.7 Key Companion Acts
FPSC swaps companion names against their acts. The question gives an act and asks which companion performed it.
| Act | Companion |
|---|---|
| Proposed compilation of the Quran | Hazrat Umar (R.A) |
| Ordered compilation of the Quran | Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) |
| Wrote out the Quran (compiled it) | Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit (R.A) |
| Standardised and distributed Quran copies | Hazrat Usman (R.A) |
| Wrote the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah | Hazrat Ali (R.A) |
| Proposed the Azan | Hazrat Umar (R.A) |
| Called the first Azan (first Mu'azzin) | Hazrat Bilal (R.A) |
| Added "As-Salatu Khayrum min an-nawm" to Fajr Azan | Hazrat Umar (R.A) |
| Added second Azan for Friday prayers | Hazrat Usman (R.A) |
| Levied Zakat on horses (first time) | Hazrat Umar (R.A) |
| Conducted first census in Islamic world | Hazrat Umar (R.A) |
| Established Department of Police | Hazrat Umar (R.A) |
| Announced war against those refusing Zakat | Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) |
| Dictated Sahifa-e-Ahadith to Hammam bin Munabbih | Hazrat Abu Huraira (R.A) |
| Appointed custodian of Bait-ul-Mal by Umar | Abdullah bin Masud (R.A) |
| Given the key of Bait Ullah permanently by Prophet | Hazrat Usman bin Talha (R.A) |
3.8 Past Paper Facts Bank
| Year | Question | Correct Answer | Repeat Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Who compiled the first work of Hadith "Sahifa-e-Ahadith"? | Hammam bin Munabbih (dictated by Abu Huraira) | HIGH |
| 2023 | "Asad-ullah" is the title of which companion? | Hazrat Hamza (R.A) | GUARANTEED |
| 2023 | Battle of Yarmuk was between Muslims and whom? | Romans (Byzantine Empire) | MEDIUM |
| 2025 | The Hadith which extends up to the Prophet (PBUH) is called? | None of these (correct term Marfu — not in options) | GUARANTEED |
| 2025 | Author of "Sunnat Khair-ul-Anam"? | Peer Muhammad Karam Shah Al-Azhari | HIGH |
| 2025 | Which companion compiled the Quran during Abu Bakr's caliphate? | Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit (R.A) | GUARANTEED |
| 2025 | Who is called more honourable than the Kaaba by the Prophet (PBUH)? | Momin (believer) | MEDIUM |
Critical note on the 2023 Sahifa question: The 2023 past paper answer is listed as "Imam Bukhari" in the solved paper — but this is incorrect. Sahifa-e-Ahadith (also called Sahifa Hammam) was compiled by Hammam bin Munabbih from the narrations of Abu Huraira. Imam Bukhari compiled Sahih Bukhari — a different collection.
3.9 CSSPrep Memory Anchors
The Lion Pair — Hamza vs Ali
Both Hamza and Ali carry lion-related titles. Hamza's is in Arabic: Asad-ullah. Ali's is in Urdu: Sher-e-Khuda. Both mean Lion of Allah. The anchor: Asad = Arabic lion = Hamza. Sher = Urdu/Persian lion = Ali.
The Umar Chain — Five Acts, One Name
Hazrat Umar holds more first-acts than any other companion. He proposed the Azan. He proposed Quran compilation. He added the Fajr phrase. He levied Zakat on horses. He conducted the first Islamic census. When a question asks "who first proposed or established X" and Umar is an option, he is almost always correct.
The Marfu Memory Fix
Marfu = elevated = raised to the Prophet. From rafa'a — to raise. Mauqoof = stopped at a companion. Maqtu = cut at a Tabi'i. Hierarchy: Prophet (Marfu) → Companion (Mauqoof) → Tabi'i (Maqtu).
The Siha-e-Sitta First-Last Rule
The first two — Bukhari and Muslim — are most authentic and together called Sahihayn. The last added — Ibn Majah — is the smallest. Most authentic = Bukhari. Last added = Ibn Majah.
The First Written Hadith — Sahifa Hammam
Abu Huraira dictated it. Hammam bin Munabbih wrote it. This happened before Bukhari, before Muslim. Hammam wrote what Huraira said.
The Zaid bin Thabit — Three Roles
Zaid bin Thabit appears in three FPSC question types: he wrote the Quran under Abu Bakr; he prepared copies of Mus'haf Abi Bakr; he was responsible for collecting the Quran text. All three answers = Zaid bin Thabit.
3.10 FPSC Trap Alert
| The Trap | Correct Answer | Why Students Get It Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Asad-ullah = Hazrat Ali? | Hazrat Hamza (R.A) | Ali is widely called Lion of Allah. But his Arabic title is Sher-e-Khuda (Urdu/Persian). Asad-ullah = Hamza. |
| Sahifa-e-Ahadith compiled by Imam Bukhari? | Hammam bin Munabbih | Bukhari's name dominates Hadith Studies. Bukhari came centuries after Sahifa Hammam. |
| Marfu Hadith = None of these? | D — None of these (answer is Marfu, listed as Maroof) | FPSC wrote "Maroof" not "Marfu" in 2025 options. Maroof means "known/recognised" — a different term. |
| First Hafiz of Quran = Hazrat Ali? | Hazrat Usman (R.A) | Ali is associated with deep Quranic knowledge. Usman was the first to memorise the entire Quran. |
| Proposed Azan = Hazrat Bilal? | Hazrat Umar (R.A) | Bilal called the first Azan. Umar proposed it. |
| Al-Muwatta compiled by Imam Bukhari? | Imam Malik (R.A) | Al-Muwatta is the oldest Hadith collection. Imam Malik compiled it. |
| Quran compiled by Usman during Abu Bakr? | Zaid bin Thabit (R.A) | Usman distributed copies. Compilation under Abu Bakr was Zaid bin Thabit. |
| Kitaab-ul-Aathaar compiled by Imam Malik? | Imam Abu Hanifa (R.A) | Al-Muwatta = Malik. Kitaab-ul-Aathaar = Abu Hanifa. |
3.11 Near-Miss Analysis
| Question | Most Chosen Wrong Answer | Why It Feels Right (But Isn't) |
|---|---|---|
| Asad-ullah title belongs to? | Hazrat Ali (R.A) | Ali is called Lion of Allah in Islamic culture. Asad-ullah as a formal title was given to Hamza. |
| First compiled Hadith work? | Sahih Bukhari | Bukhari is the most famous name. Sahifa-e-Ahadith predates Bukhari by ~200 years. |
| Hadith extending to Prophet = Maroof? | A — Maroof | FPSC listed "Maroof" (not Marfu) as option A. Look similar — students pick A. Correct term Marfu was not in options. |
| Who compiled Quran under Abu Bakr? | Hazrat Usman (R.A) | Usman standardised and distributed copies later. Actual compilation under Abu Bakr was Zaid bin Thabit. |
3.12 If You Forget — Elimination Guide
Scenario 1 — Asad-ullah belongs to Hamza or Ali. Asad is classical Arabic. Hamza's title came directly from the Prophet in Arabic. Ali's popular lion title in Urdu-Persian discourse is Sher-e-Khuda. Arabic title = Hamza. Urdu title = Ali.
Scenario 2 — Which Imam compiled Al-Muwatta. Al-Muwatta is the oldest surviving Hadith collection. Imam Malik lived and taught in Madina — closest to the Prophet's time. He is titled Imam-e-Dar-ul-Hijrat. Old + Madina = Malik.
Scenario 3 — Hadith classification terms. Marfu = raised to the top (Prophet). Mauqoof = stopped mid-way (Companion). Maqtu = cut short (Tabi'i).
Scenario 4 — Umar vs Bilal for the Azan. Proposed = Umar. Called = Bilal. The verb gives the answer.
3.13 5-Minute Battle Card
- Siha-e-Sitta: 1) Sahih Bukhari (Imam Bukhari, Amir-ul-Momineen fil Hadith — MOST authentic) | 2) Sahih Muslim | 3) Sunan Abu Dawood | 4) Jami at-Tirmidhi | 5) Sunan an-Nasa'i | 6) Sunan Ibn Majah (LAST added)
- Other key works: Al-Muwatta = Imam Malik (Imam-e-Dar-ul-Hijrat — OLDEST) | Kitaab-ul-Aathaar = Imam Abu Hanifa | Musnad Ahmad = Imam Ahmad (largest, 27,000+) | Sahifa-e-Ahadith = Hammam bin Munabbih (dictated by Abu Huraira — FIRST written) | Sunnat Khair-ul-Anam = Peer Karam Shah (tested 2025)
- Hadith classification: Marfu = reaches Prophet (tested 2025 as Maroof = None of these) | Mauqoof = stops at Companion | Maqtu = stops at Tabi'i | Qudsi = Allah's words via Prophet (not Quran) | Sahih = authentic | Hasan = good | Da'if = weak | Mutawatir = mass-transmitted
- Companion titles: Asad-ullah (Arabic Lion of Allah) = Hamza (tested 2023) | Sher-e-Khuda (Urdu Lion) = Ali | Saif-ullah = Khalid bin Waleed | Ameen-ul-Ummat = Abu Ubaida bin Al-Jarrah | Atique + As-Siddiq = Abu Bakr | Farooq = Umar | Ghani + First Hafiz = Usman | Bab-ul-Ilm = Ali | Siddiqa + 2,210 Hadiths = Aisha
- Umar's five acts: Proposed Azan | Proposed Quran compilation | Added Fajr Azan phrase | Levied Zakat on horses | First Islamic census | Department of Police
3.14 Practice MCQs
Tier 1 — Basic Recall
Siha-e-Sitta, titles, compilation, dictation.
How many books make up the Siha-e-Sitta?
Show explanation
Siha-e-Sitta literally means 'the six authentic books.' They are Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah.
Trap: Students confuse with Arkan-e-Islam or Khulafa.
'Asad-ullah' (Lion of Allah) is the title of which companion?
Show explanation
Asad-ullah was specifically given to Hazrat Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib. Hazrat Ali's lion title is Sher-e-Khuda (Urdu/Persian). Khalid's title is Saif-ullah.
Trap: Ali is called Lion of Allah so consistently that students assign Asad-ullah to him.
2023
Which companion was responsible for writing out the Quran during Hazrat Abu Bakr's caliphate?
Show explanation
Zaid bin Thabit compiled and wrote out the Quran under Abu Bakr's order. Usman later standardised and distributed copies. Umar proposed it.
Trap: Usman's Quran association is strongest in memory — students give him Abu Bakr's role.
2025
Al-Muwatta was compiled by which scholar?
Show explanation
Al-Muwatta is the oldest surviving Hadith collection, compiled by Imam Malik bin Anas. He is titled Imam-e-Dar-ul-Hijrat.
Trap: Bukhari is the most famous name — students assign the oldest collection to him.
The first written compilation of Hadith — Sahifa-e-Ahadith — was dictated by which companion?
Show explanation
Abu Huraira dictated the Hadith to Hammam bin Munabbih, who wrote them out. This predates Bukhari by approximately two centuries.
Trap: Bukhari's name dominates — students think first = most famous.
2023
Tier 2 — Trap-Based
Maroof vs Marfu, Sunnat Khair-ul-Anam author, Qudsi, Kitaab-ul-Aathaar, Aisha count, Mauqoof, Ameen-ul-Ummat.
The Hadith which extends its chain back to the Prophet (PBUH) is called:
Show explanation
The correct term is Marfu (مرفوع) — not Maroof. FPSC listed 'Maroof' (an unrelated term meaning 'known') in the options. Since the correct term was absent, the answer is D.
Trap: Option A (Maroof) looks similar to Marfu. Students pick A thinking it is close enough.
2025
Who is the author of the Seerah book 'Sunnat Khair-ul-Anam'?
Show explanation
Sunnat Khair-ul-Anam was authored by Peer Muhammad Karam Shah Al-Azhari. Mufti Muhammad Shafi wrote Ma'arif-ul-Quran — a different work.
Trap: Mufti Shafi is famous for Tafseer — students transfer that fame to this book.
2025
Which Hadith term describes Allah's words narrated by the Prophet (PBUH) but NOT part of the Quran?
Show explanation
Hadith Qudsi carries Allah's meaning in the Prophet's words — sacred but not Quranic text. Marfu refers to chain elevation. Mutawatir refers to mass transmission.
Trap: Marfu is also a prestigious Hadith type — students guess it covers divine words too.
Kitaab-ul-Aathaar was compiled by which Islamic scholar?
Show explanation
Kitaab-ul-Aathaar belongs to Imam Abu Hanifa. Al-Muwatta belongs to Imam Malik. Musnad Ahmad belongs to Ibn Hanbal.
Trap: Three Imams, three different books. Names are swapped as distractors between options.
Hazrat Aisha Siddiqa (R.A) narrated approximately how many Hadiths?
Show explanation
Hazrat Aisha narrated approximately 2,210 Hadiths — the highest number among female companions. Abu Huraira narrated the most overall (over 5,000).
Trap: 5,000 is Abu Huraira's count — students assign the larger number to the more famous name.
A Hadith whose chain of narration stops at a Companion (Sahabi) and does not reach the Prophet is called:
Show explanation
Mauqoof = stopped at companion. Marfu = raised to Prophet. Maqtu = cut at Tabi'i.
Trap: Marfu sounds like the most important — students pick it for anything chain-related.
Which companion was titled 'Ameen-ul-Ummat' (Trustee of the Nation)?
Show explanation
Ameen-ul-Ummat was given to Abu Ubaida bin Al-Jarrah by the Prophet (PBUH). Abu Bakr's titles are Atique and As-Siddiq.
Trap: Abu Bakr's titles are more famous — students assign Ameen-ul-Ummat to him.
Tier 3 — Elite Simulation
Compiler pairs, Umar acts, Marfu correct technical term.
Which of these correctly pairs a Hadith collection with its compiler?
Show explanation
Option B correctly pairs both. Al-Muwatta = Malik. Sahifa = Abu Huraira's narrations. All other options swap compilers between books.
Trap: Option A swaps Malik and Bukhari. Option C swaps Malik and Abu Hanifa.
Three of the following statements about Hazrat Umar (R.A) are correct. Which one is WRONG?
Show explanation
Hazrat Umar proposed the Azan — he did not call it. The first Mu'azzin was Hazrat Bilal.
Trap: Umar is so associated with Azan that students give him the calling role too.
FPSC asked in 2025: 'The Hadith extending to the Prophet is called?' The correct term was not in the options. What IS the correct technical term?
Show explanation
The correct term is Marfu (مرفوع). FPSC listed 'Maroof' (an unrelated word) — making the exam answer D (None of these). But the actual technical term you must know is Marfu.
Trap: Maroof means 'known/recognised' — sounds close enough to Marfu under time pressure.
2025
Answer Key with Trap Analysis
Hadith Sciences & Companions — Q1–Q15
| Q | Correct | Type | Primary Trap | Why Others Fail |
|---|
Bridge to Chapter 4 — Islamic Jurisprudence, Pillars & Other Prophets: The four schools of Islamic jurisprudence — Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali — are named after the same Imams whose Hadith works appear here. Chapter 4 builds on these scholars in Fiqh territory.