Qur’an—the speech of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم (i.e. The noble Ahadith) follows in rank. The noble Qur’an is like an ocean, and the noble Ahadith are its ship; the holy Qur’an is spiritual food, and the blessed Ahadith are merciful water. Just as food cannot be prepared without water, the noble Qur’an cannot be understood without the blessed Ahadith, nor can it be acted upon.^[1] Our beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, تَرَکْتُ فِیْکُمْ اَمْرَیْن “I have left two matters amongst you.” لَنْ تَضِلُّوْا مَا تَمَسَّکْتُمْ بِہِمَا  “You will not go astray as long as you hold onto them both.” 1. کِتَابُ اللہ “The book of Allah Almighty.” 2. وَ سُنَّۃُنَبِیِّہٖ “and the Sunnah of His Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ”.^[2] In another blessed hadith, it is stated, “Whosoever learnt 40 Ahadith related to the religion, Allah Almighty will raise him on the Day of Judgement in the assembly of the scholars and jurists.”^[3]  

Fasted an entire year to listen to a single hadith

Alas! The passion for reading and listening to hadith is diminishing completely.  مَا شَآء َ اللہ! The early Muslims had a deep desire for reading, listening to and memorising Ahadith. Imam Jalal al-Din as-Suyuti Shafi’i رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه says, “Sayyiduna Abu al-‘Abbas Mustaghfiri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه travelled to Egypt once and presented himself in the court of the Muhaddith Sayyiduna Abu Hamid Misri  رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه .  He said, “My master! Relate to me the hadith of Sayyiduna Khalid ibn al-Walid.” Sayyiduna Abu Hamid Misri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه replied, “First, keep fasts for a year.”