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Q1: The Arabic word Hadith means “speech.” In Islam, Hadith relate to stories or narrations about Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). Sometimes the Hadith may be a quotation of Prophet Muhammad. Or the Hadith might be a story about something that happened during his lifetime. The Hadith are used as legislative statements and are second only to the Quran in importance in Islam.
The Hadith are very important in Islam because they fill in the details on Islamic life. Where the Quran gives Muslims a broad framework for how we should live, the Hadith give us specific information. Here are some examples of how the Hadith give us specifics on general commandments from the Quran.
• The Quran commands Muslims to pray. - However, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) has informed us how and when to perform Islamic prayers in several Hadith.
• The Quran commands Muslims to make Hajj. - However, narrations describing the Hajj and Umrah of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) tell us how to make Hajj.
• The Quran commands Muslims to give Zakkat. - However, it is Hadith quoting narrations from Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) that tell us who must pay Zakkat, and how much to give. To put it simple, the Hadith explain the Sunnah (practice or tradition) of Prophet Muhammad, (S.A.W).
Prophets of Allah are our guides and examples. In order to live a righteous life of monotheistic worship, we have to follow their example. The only prophet for whom we have detailed knowledge of their daily life is Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W). We can follow Prophet Muhammad’s tradition, or his Sunnah, by learning, studying, and implementing the authentic Hadith.
Q3: Cave of Hira:
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) used to retreat into the cave of Hira which is 3 km from Makkah on mount Hira. The Prophet (S.A.W) used to meditate in cave of Hira praying to one God who created everything. As usual, One day in the month of Ramazan, when he was 40 years old he was meditating in the cave of Hira, in the year 610 A.D, he felt a presence of a being in the form of man, who came to him and said to him recite: Prophet (S.A.W) narrated this experience as “He (Jibrail) seized and squeezed me to such an extent that I was exhausted” (Sahi Bukhari). This action of squeezing was repeated three times and after third time, Jibrail (A.S) said: “Recite in the name of thy lord, who created. Created man from a congealed blood. Recite and your Lord is most bountiful. He, who taught man by the pen. Taught man what he knew not.”(96: 1-5). After this, the Prophet (S.A.W) recited the first verses of the last Book of Allah which were imprinted on his heart and mind. The Prophet (S.A.W) was surprised, and confused, started trembling and sweating because of the weight of the Divine revelation.
He ran out of the cave towards his house. When he looked back, he (S.A.W) Jibrail (A.S) in his true angelic form with his wings covering the horizon, and saying: “O Mohammad (S.A.W)! I am Jibrail (A.S) and you are the last Prophet of Allah.” (Ibn Hisham vol 1).The Holy Prophet(S.A.W) came back home and said to his wife Hazrat Bibi Khadija tul Kubra(R.A) “cover me up, cover me up”(Sahi Bukhari) because he was afraid, confused and trembling with fear.
Cave of Saur
When Quraish decided to kill The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) and they were planning, Allah informed his beloved Prophet (S.A.W) and commanded him to leave Makkah for Madinah. Allah says in the holy Quran: “They plot and plan and Allah too plans and the best planner is Allah.” (8:30).
So it was in 622 A.D, 13th year of dawah, and he was 52 years old, The Prophet (S.A.W) departed from Makkah with his life time friend Hazrat Abu Bakar Siddique (R.A) towards Madinah. Both of them proceeded southwards, clambered up to the lofty peaks of mount thawr, and decided to take refuge in the cave of Thawr. Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) said to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) “Let me go inside first to explore and be sure that it was save” Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) closed all holes with pieces torn from his cloths, cleaned it and asked Holy Prophet (S.A.W) to step in [Ibn Hisham 1/483] . As soon as Holy Prophet (S.A.W) entered the cave a spider wove a web and two doves made a nest and laid eggs and sat on them this was all done on the command of ALLAH. Some of the Quraishites horse men’s came up to the cave one of them went near to the cave, from the cave Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) looked over his head and he said to Holy Prophet (S.A.W) with the trembling heart “O Prophet of ALLAH they will see us, the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) in his heart God-inspired calmness replied: “Silence Abu Bakr! What do you think of those two with whom the Third is ALLAH” (Sahih Bukhari 1/516; Mukhtasr Seerat Ar-Rasool P.168) as the Quran says: “..........they were two in the cave and he said to his companion, have no fear for Allah is with us” (9:40). Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) sat down and Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) laid his head in Abu Bakr’s lap and fell asleep. Suddenly Abu Bakr’s foot was stung by a poisonous snake. It hurts so much that his tears fell on Prophet’s Face. The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) immediately applied his Saliva on Abu Bakr’s foot and pain went off on the spot. They stayed in the Cave for Three Nights (youm al-jum`a, youm as-sabt, and youm al-ahad).
