Sunan Abi Dawood (Arabic) - Deluxe Single-Volume Hadith Collection by Imam Abu Dawood

Sunan Abi Dawood is Darussalam's deluxe single-volume Arabic edition of Imam Abu Dawood's Sunan, one of the six canonically recognised hadith collections (Al-Kutub As-Sittah). This edition presents the full Arabic text of over 4,800 hadith, arranged by chapter (kitab) according to the topics of Islamic jurisprudence they address.

About This Edition

This is a deluxe single-volume printing of the complete Sunan in classical Arabic, with each hadith placed within its appropriate chapter so the collection can be used for study, teaching, or reference in the order Abu Dawood himself intended. No translation or added commentary is included — the text is presented as Abu Dawood compiled it, in its original language.

About Sunan Abi Dawood

Sunan Abi Dawood was compiled by Imam Abu Dawood Sulayman ibn Al-Ash'ath As-Sijistani (202–275 AH / 817–889 CE), born in Sistan and later settled in Basra. He travelled widely in search of hadith, studying with scholars across Iraq, Egypt, Syria, the Hijaz, Tihamah, Nishapur, and Merv, and is reported to have examined roughly 500,000 hadith before selecting the approximately 4,800 that make up his Sunan.

About the Compiler

Abu Dawood was a contemporary and, by some accounts, a student of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and he taught later compilers of the six books, including Imam At-Tirmidhi and Imam An-Nasa'i. His reputation as a rigorous, widely-travelled collector of hadith made his Sunan one of the most consulted collections among later jurists, distinct in character from collections built primarily around establishing authenticity alone.

Abu Dawood's Method and Approach

Unlike Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, Abu Dawood compiled his Sunan specifically around hadith bearing on legal rulings (ahkam), rather than aiming to gather only the most authenticated narrations available. He included a number of hadith that later scholars graded as weak (da'if) where they still carried legal relevance, and where he judged a hadith to be seriously deficient he typically noted this himself — a transparency that later scholars have relied on when grading the collection chapter by chapter.

Its Place Among the Six Books (Al-Kutub As-Sittah)

Sunan Abi Dawood is traditionally ranked third among the six canonical hadith collections, after Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, and alongside Jami At-Tirmidhi, Sunan An-Nasa'i, and Sunan Ibn Majah. Its focus on fiqh-relevant hadith has made it a particularly important reference for jurists working through questions of Islamic law, complementing the more authenticity-focused structure of the two Sahihs.

About This Copy

Compiler: Imam Abu Dawood Sulayman ibn Al-Ash'ath As-Sijistani · Publisher: Darussalam · Language: Arabic · Format: Hardcover, single deluxe volume · Pages: 944 · Size: 17 x 24 cm

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the Arabic text only, or does it include an English translation?
Arabic text only — this edition presents Abu Dawood's Sunan in its original language without translation or added commentary.

How many hadith does this collection contain?
Over 4,800, selected by Abu Dawood from roughly 500,000 he examined during his travels.

Is every hadith in this collection authentic (sahih)?
No — Abu Dawood focused on hadith relevant to Islamic rulings rather than authenticity alone, and included some weaker narrations where legally relevant, typically noting the ones he judged deficient.

How does Sunan Abi Dawood compare to Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim?
It's traditionally ranked third among the six canonical collections, with a particular focus on hadith bearing on Islamic legal rulings rather than aiming solely for the most authenticated narrations.

What format and size is this edition?
A single deluxe hardcover volume, 944 pages, 17 x 24 cm.

Do you ship this book across the UK?
Yes, Darussalam UK ships nationwide.

Browse more in Hadith & Sunnah, or see Summarized Sahih Muslim and Sunan Ibn Majah.