Collection of Ḥadīth, was begun in Muhammad's lifetime by members of his family, clients, and close Companions. While several of his secretaries recorded his recitation of the Qur'ān, others attended to his state correspondence. His administrators preserved the documents.

After Muhammad's death, an increasing number of Companions collected and disseminated his Ḥadīth, and sunnah for personal and public guidance. ‘Umar b. al-Khattāb (13–24/634–44), credited with a preliminary edition of the Qur'ān, considered the advisability of a formal Ḥadīth, collection. He rejected the idea, fearing the potentially dangerous competition of such an edition with the Qur'ān. He warned the Companions against relating too many of the Prophet's traditions. His strong measures against those who ignored his warning served to deter others. Abū Hurayrah (d. 5 8/678) reported later that, so long as ‘Umar lived, the people dared not say “the apostle of Allah said” for fear he would have them flogged, imprisoned, or otherwise severely punished.

‘Umar's son ‘Abdullāh and Zayd b. Thābit al-Ansārī were among the few who opposed written Tradition. Many more intensified their search for the Ḥadīth, of the Prophet, both oral and written. Eventually, even ‘Abdullāh b. ‘Umar dictated his growing collection. The first professional transmitters were Muhammad's illiterate follower Abū Jurayrah and his client Anas b. Mālik al-Ansārī (d. 94/712). When questioned about his numerous traditions, Abū Hurayrah explained that he was poor, had been long with Muhammad, and had devoted his life to memorizing his Ḥadīth while the Meccans were preoccupied with the market and Medinans with their lands.