Asalamu alaikum. Can a statement of a Sahabi be called a Hadith?
Wa Alaikum Salaam
According to the scholars of Hadith, the term Hadith is generally only used for those sayings which are attributed in an unbroken chain to the Prophet ﷺ . If the chain is broken, the narration is either severed (munqat'i) - meaning there is a missing link in the chain, or its considered effectively unbroken (mursal hukman) - meaning there is a missing link but the missing link is a companion; all companions are just and trustworthy so knowing specifically which companion it is does not effect its attribution to the Prophet as opposed to a missing link elsewhere in the chain.
Sayings of the Companions are generally called Athar (آثار). However, if a companion narrates something that they could not have known except from the Prophet ﷺ it is given an equivalent ruling as a Hadith directly from the Prophet ﷺ. Examples of this are if a Companion says something about a specific reward or punishment in the Hereafter.
Hope this helps
Yusuf
According to the scholars of Hadith, the term Hadith is generally only used for those sayings which are attributed in an unbroken chain to the Prophet ﷺ . If the chain is broken, the narration is either severed (munqat'i) - meaning there is a missing link in the chain, or its considered effectively unbroken (mursal hukman) - meaning there is a missing link but the missing link is a companion; all companions are just and trustworthy so knowing specifically which companion it is does not effect its attribution to the Prophet as opposed to a missing link elsewhere in the chain.
Sayings of the Companions are generally called Athar (آثار). However, if a companion narrates something that they could not have known except from the Prophet ﷺ it is given an equivalent ruling as a Hadith directly from the Prophet ﷺ. Examples of this are if a Companion says something about a specific reward or punishment in the Hereafter.
Hope this helps
Yusuf