What is the “agreed-upon” Hadeeth? Must it be narrated from one Companion with the exact wording and meaning?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

An “agreed-upon Hadeeth” is every Hadeeth narrated by both Al-Bukhari and Muslim, May Allaah Have Mercy upon them. As-Suyooti said, “If it is said ‘A Saheeh agreed-upon Hadeeth’, it means the agreement of both Al-Bukhari and Muslims on it. This Hadeeth may be narrated by one, two or a group of the Companions . ‘Agreed-upon’ does not mean that the narrators narrated the Hadeeth with the same wording and meaning, for the Hadeeth might be mentioned in different wordings.”

Hence, the agreed-upon Hadeeth is every Hadeeth narrated by both Imaam Al-Bukhari and Imaam Muslim, may Allaah have Mercy upon them, and was reported in their books, regardless of their agreeing upon its wording or not. What is important is to have the same meaning in both Hadeeths.

Allaah Knows best.