Hadith vs. Sunnah — What's the Difference?

Ḥadīth ( or ; Arabic: حديث‎ ḥadīṯ Arabic pronunciation: [ħadiːθ], pl. aḥādīth, أحاديث, ʾaḥādīṯ, Arabic pronunciation: [ʔaħadiːθ], literally means "talk" or "discourse") or Athar (Arabic: أثر‎, ʾAṯar, literally means "tradition") in Islam refers to what the majority of Muslims believe to be a record of the words, actions, and the silent approval of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

In Islam, Sunnah (Arabic: سنة‎, sunnah), are the traditions and practices of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, that constitute a model for Muslims to follow. The sunnah is what all the Muslims of Muhammad's time evidently saw and followed and passed on to the next generations.

A report of the sayings or actions of Muhammad or his companions, together with the tradition of its chain of transmission.

The way of life prescribed as normative in Islam, based on the teachings and practices of Muhammad and on exegesis of the Koran. Also called hadith.

The collective body of these traditions.

Muhammad's way of life viewed as a model for Muslims.

See Sunna.

(An example of) Muhammad's way of life, as recorded in the hadiths, especially when viewed as a model for Muslims to emulate.

An eyewitness account of a saying or action of Muhammad or sometimes one of his companions not otherwise found in the Quran.

(Islam) the way of life prescribed as normative for Muslims on the basis of the teachings and practices of Muhammad and interpretations of the Koran

A particular accepted collection of such accounts, as from a single source or within a particular branch of Islam or Islamic jurisprudence.

(Islam) a tradition based on reports of the sayings and activities of Muhammad and his companions

(Islam) the way of life prescribed as normative for Muslims on the basis of the teachings and practices of Muhammad and interpretations of the Koran