Definition
A complete fabrication — invented and attributed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Narrating it without warning of its fabricated status is sinful and a form of lying upon the Prophet ﷺ.
Pronunciation: maw-ḌŪ‘
Etymology & Root
From و-ض-ع (w-ḍ-‘), meaning 'to put down, to invent.' Mawḍū‘ is what is 'placed' upon the Prophet ﷺ falsely.
Usage in the Sunnah
'Whoever lies upon me deliberately, let him take his seat in the Fire.' (Bukhārī 110, Muslim 3 — mutawātir)
Scholarly Notes
Specialised works expose fabrications — e.g. Ibn al-Jawzī's al-Mawḍū‘āt and al-Albānī's Silsilah aḍ-Ḍa‘īfah. Many widely-circulated 'sayings of the Prophet' on virtues and rewards are fabricated.
Practical Application
Be especially cautious of viral 'ḥadīths' promising astonishing rewards for tiny actions — these are common signatures of fabrication.
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Related Terms
More from Hadith Terminology
Authentic — the highest grade of hadith.
The science of criticising and validating narrators.
The chain of narrators of a hadith.
A narration of the Prophet's ﷺ words, actions, or approvals.
Attributed to a Companion only.
Good — second grade of authentic hadith.