Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As salam mu allai kum,

At the end of some hadiths where the reference should be given, it will be mentioned "Agreed Upon".

Can you please let me know as to what is its meaning?    

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

What does ‘agreed upon’ mean

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

When the term ‘Muttafik-un-alayhe’ (or Agreed Upon) is used as a reference to the hadith, it merely means that the exact same hadith is related in both Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

The collections of Imam Bukhari (Sahih Bukhari) and Imam Muslim (Sahih Muslim) are considered by the scholars and the jurists to be amongst the most authentic works regarding the collection of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws). If a particular hadith finds mention in both the books, (ie. it is ‘Agreed Upon’ by both Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim), then it is considered stronger and more authentic than the other hadiths.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan