A large portion of the historical record of the Prophetic period has been transmitted through akhbār āḥād. Among these, the things that have been narrated in the capacity of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) words, actions, tacit approvals, and confirmations are called “ḥadīth.” There is no doubt that these do not add any belief or practice to the religion; yet it is also a fact that the greatest source for knowing the Prophet’s biography and life accounts, his uswa ḥasana, and his understanding and elucidation of religion is precisely these aḥādīth. And not only this—if any command or decision of the Prophet (ﷺ) reaches his followers through these, and they are satisfied regarding its authenticity, then for them it is the command and decision of God’s Messenger. Every Muslim should accept it without any hesitation.

This is the status of ḥadīth, in view of which no seeker of religion can remain indifferent to it. It is on this basis that our scholars have always attached extraordinary importance to its research and verification, to the scrutiny of its texts, and to their explanation and clarification. This compilation is also a contribution in this same tradition, and it has been arranged in accordance with the very principles of acceptance and rejection of ḥadīth that the imams of ḥadīth scholarship have established. “ʿIlm al-Nabī”—this is a collection of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) wisdom of religion, faith and ethics, and his reports concerning the past and the future. The reports currently available relating to the Prophet (ﷺ) number in the thousands. Among them, only marfūʿ and those aḥādīth of the grade of “ṣaḥīḥ” or “ḥasan” have been included in this compilation.