Hadiths in the Prophetic Sunnah Containing the Words "Keys" and "Key" (Collection and Study)

Abstract

This study aims to collect the Prophetic hadiths in which the terms “key” and “keys” appear, bringing together narrations that are scattered across various sources and presenting them in a single study for easier reference. It also examines the authenticity of each hadith—whether authentic (ṣaḥīḥ), weak (ḍaʿīf), or very weak—while citing the evaluations of hadith scholars. In addition, the study explains these narrations, clarifies their meanings, and derives some of the rulings and lessons they contain. Since the Qur’an mentions that God possesses the keys, this research seeks to examine and compile the Prophetic references to keys mentioned by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The hadiths addressing this concept amount to twelve narrations of varying levels of authenticity. Accordingly, the study is divided into four sections based on the thematic similarity among these hadiths.