Defining the Prophetic Hadith: That Its Wording and Meaning Are from the Messenger

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Question:
Honorable Shaykh, this questioner says: Is the definition given by the scholars of hadith terminology for the Prophetic hadith as “what is both in wording and meaning from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)” correct, given that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) does not legislate from his own self, but rather it is revelation revealed to him? So, is it correct for us to say that its wording and meaning are from the Messenger?

Answer:
The wording of the Prophetic hadith is from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), but its meaning is revelation from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). As for the statement that its wording and meaning are from the Messenger, that is an error. The Messenger does not

⁽³⁾ Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. ⁽⁴⁾ It is not but a revelation revealed,

يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ

[An-Najm 53:3-4]

. So its meaning is from Allah, revelation from Allah, and its wording is from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). This is the Prophetic hadith. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you

Source 75-اللقاء الأسبوعي مع الشيخ صالح الفوزان - 31 — archive.org (30:54)

The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.

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