How many years after Muhammad's death were the Hadith texts written down?

The Hadith texts, which are accounts of the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad, were written down primarily in the 8th and 9th centuries, about 100 to 200 years after Muhammad's death in 632 CE. The most recognized collections of Hadith, such as those by Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, were compiled in the 9th century, which situates their formation well beyond the initial period following Muhammad’s passing.

Choosing "more than 100 years" underscores the historical context in which these texts were narrated and transmitted orally before being compiled. During the first century after Muhammad's death, there was no systematic recording of Hadith, as the focus was on the Quran and establishing the early Muslim community. It wasn't until considerably later that scholars recognized the importance of codifying these accounts. Thus, stating that it was more than 100 years reflects the academic consensus regarding the timeline of the formation of Hadith literature.