Mustadrak al Hakim Vol 1

Mustadrak al-Hakim – Summary

Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn (المستدرك على الصحيحين) is a hadith collection compiled by Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Hakim al-Nishapuri (321-405 AH / 933-1014 CE). The title means “The Supplement to the Two Sahihs,” referring to Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

Volume 1: Contents and Themes

Primary Focus

Volume 1 primarily covers the Books of Faith (Iman) and Knowledge (Ilm), establishing the foundational principles of Islamic belief and religious understanding.

Major Sections

1. Book of Faith (Kitab al-Iman)

• Hadiths defining the pillars and characteristics of faith
• Narrations about the superiority of faith and its manifestations
• Discussions on major and minor sins
• The relationship between faith and actions
• Descriptions of the believers’ qualities

2. Book of Knowledge (Kitab al-Ilm)

• The virtues of seeking knowledge
• The responsibility of scholars
• Transmission of knowledge and its authenticity
• Etiquette of learning and teaching
• Preserving prophetic traditions

3. Opening Chapters

• Introductory hadiths about revelation
• The beginning of prophethood
• Angel Jibreel’s visits to the Prophet (peace be upon him)

Methodology

Al-Hakim’s objective was to collect authentic hadiths that met the criteria of Bukhari and Muslim but were not included in their collections. He applied rigorous standards of authentication, though later scholars like Imam al-Dhahabi provided critical annotations pointing out some hadiths that may not meet the strict criteria.

Key Features

• Includes detailed chains of narration (isnad)
• Contains hadiths from various companions of the Prophet
• Provides al-Hakim’s authentication statements
• Often accompanied by al-Dhahabi’s critical commentary in margins

Significance

This volume lays the theological and epistemological foundation for understanding Islam, making it essential for scholars studying authentic hadith literature beyond the Two Sahihs.

Estimated Hadith Count

Approximately 1,500-2,000 hadiths in Volume 1