Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim,
Wa'laykum-as-Salaam wa Rahmatullahi,
My brother your question is a very good one, because we have to make sure that all of our sources from which our actions are based, are from the real sources.
If you study the biographys, of the great personalities of Islam, for example Imam Bukhari, and Imam Muslim, then you will find that these personalities had compiled their books from either the tabi'in, or other ennobled Companions of theirs known as the taba' tabi'in.
However, you will also find that many ahaadith were recorded, either in the minds of men, or on books. The Qur'an al kareem was written on bits of leather, on barks of wood, on material, and on stone. But as Islam began to fully flourish, advancements were made in terms of materialistic objects. Such writings were now found on paper. A classical example of this was the library of Hadrat 'Abd-Allah ibn-e-Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), whose material was with his son (jame'ah Bayan-al-'ilm).
Hadrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) also wrote a book (Bukhari, tadhrib-ur-Raawi).
Hadrat 'Abd-Allah ibn-e-Amr bin Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote scores of ahaadith, his collection was called 'Saadiqah'.
Hadrat Sa'ad bin 'Ubaadah, collected loads of ahaadith in a book, and this book was even called 'the book of Sa'ad ibn-e-'Ubaadah. This book remained amongst his generation for a long time. (Musnad Imam Ahmad).
Sa'd bin Rabi' (may Allah be pleased with him, had also compiled a book.
Harat Abu Hurayrah, had offices amongst offices of ahaadith which had written, or told people to write down, (fath-hul-Bari).
The book of Humaam ibn-e-Munabbah (may Allah be pleased with him) which was copied from some of Abu Hurayrah's office, has now been published. The majority of Hadiths that are found in Bukhari, Muslim, and Musnad Imam Ahmad, are from him and can be found word for word.
Samrah bin Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) also compiled a book called Tahdhib. Ibn-e-Umar said:
"At the time when we were sat around the Messenger of Allah, writing".
From this we can see that normally, some of the Companions, would write down the words of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon Him), as there are findings from the books of Ibn-e-'Abbas, and Ibn-e-'Umar.
Also there are numerous stories, which are based on reality about the later days of the Ennobled Companions, and how they would study these books. How they would come and go from one city to another, as they enjoyed exchanging their knowledge with one another. How they would study before they went out shopping, or before they met one another. Then there are the accounts of those who came after them. The Tabi'in.
These stories are so interesting, and educational, that they not only give you the biographies of the beacons of Islam, but also give you an insight on the interest, lifestyle, education, manners, respect, honour, esteem, generousity, level of worship, contentment, and thanksgiving that these personalities used to have. This is the type of knowledge that people must make incumbent upon themselves, if we are truly to follow the Straight Path.
May Allah the Almighty help us to seek the truth, and in turn to follow those who were selected by Him.M. Waseem Ashrafi
