History Hadiths are available in collections dating from the ninth to the eleventh centuries or even later. The hadiths themselves, through their isnads, claim to have been transmitted from earlier times. There are four sources that allow us to know more about the history of these hadiths: (1) the isnads of the traditions; (2) their texts (matns); (3) biographical traditions about the transmitters found in the isnads; and (4) the later norm and practice of transmitting traditions (known from different types of sources).
Most Sunnite Muslim scholars are convinced that it is possible to reconstruct the history of the hadiths on the basis of the four sources, which they consider on the whole as being reliable. They usually sketch the origin and development of the hadiths as follows: The Prophet taught his “way” (sunna) to his Companions orally, by writing or by practical demonstration. He encouraged his Companions to diffuse his teachings and sent teachers and preachers to newly converted tribes. His Companions were very eager to learn as much as they could from their Prophet.

تاريخ

احاديثي که از قرن نهم تا يازدهم وارد کتب حديثي شده است، از احاديثي که در ساير دوران نگاشته شده، بيشتر است. احاديث با توجه به اسنادشان، خود ميگويند که که از متقدمين به ما رسيدهاند. چهار راه براي آگاهي بيشتر ما از اين احاديث وجود دارد.
1ـ سند
2ـ متن
3ـ توضيحات مربوط به زندگي راويان
4ـ‌ معيارهاي بعدي در مورد راويان، که از منابع مختلف نقل ميشود.
قاطبه دانشمندان سني مذهب معتقدند که اين امکان وجود دارد که تاريخ حديث را بر پايه اين چهار منبع، باز شناسي کنيم، چنانکه همه اين چهار منبع را قابل اطمينان ميدانند. ايشان، روند به وجود آمدن و پيشرفت حديث را اينگونه مطرح مي‌کنند که پيامبر، سنن خود را به نقل شفاهي يا روش عملي به صحابه‌اش ياد داد. او، يارانش را به انتشار دانشهايي که خود به آنان آموخته بود، فرا خواند و خود، معلماني براي تبليغ به قبايل تازه مسلمان ميفرستاد. صحابه، علاقه زيادي به يادگيري سنن رسول خدا داشتند.

They learned his sunna, that is, his practice, by doing it with him, they