Short answer
A hadith qudsi is a saying in which the Prophet ﷺ reports what Allah said, such as "O My servants, I have forbidden injustice for Myself." Its meaning is from Allah, but it is not the Quran: it is not recited in salah, it is not miraculous in wording, and like other hadith it can be authentic or weak.
Hadith qudsi are part of the sunnah, not the Quran. The rulings special to the Quran (reciting it in salah, the ban on touching it without wudu, the reward per letter, and the kufr of denying any part of it) do not apply to them.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Qudsi means "holy", referring to Allah. In a hadith qudsi the Prophet ﷺ says, in effect, "Allah said...". A well-known example is in Sahih Muslim: "O My servants, I have forbidden injustice for Myself and made it forbidden among you." Another is "I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me", in al-Bukhari.
How it differs from the Quran:
- Wording: the Quran is the word of Allah in both meaning and wording. In a hadith qudsi, most scholars say the meaning is from Allah and the wording is the Prophet's ﷺ.
- Transmission: every letter of the Quran reached us through mass transmission (tawatur). Hadith qudsi come through ordinary chains and are graded sahih, hasan or weak like any hadith.
- Worship: salah is valid only with the Quran. Reading a hadith qudsi in salah does not count as recitation.
- Purity: wudu is needed to touch the mushaf, not a book of hadith qudsi.
- Challenge: the Quran challenges people to produce something like it (2:23). Hadith qudsi carry no such challenge.
Why the search "Quranic hadith"? People often mean hadith qudsi, or hadith that explain an ayah. The Quran and the sunnah work together: the Prophet ﷺ was sent to make clear what was revealed (16:44). See the difference between the Quran, sunnah and hadith.
Classical scholars made collections of hadith qudsi, and the forty hadith of Imam al-Nawawi include several. Read them with a teacher or a reliable commentary, since some popular "Allah says" quotes online have no sound chain.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:23
وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍۢ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا۟ بِسُورَةٍۢ مِّن مِّثْلِهِۦ وَٱدْعُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ ﴿٢٣﴾
And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful.
The challenge that belongs to the Quran alone.
Quran, Surah An-Nahl 16:44
بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَٱلزُّبُرِ ۗ وَأَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٤٤﴾
[We sent them] with clear proofs and written ordinances. And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought.
The Prophet's ﷺ words explain the Quran.
Sahih Muslim 2577
Sahih... يا عبادي إني حرمت الظلم على نفسي ...
"O My servants, I have forbidden injustice for Myself."
A well-known hadith qudsi in which the Prophet ﷺ reports Allah's words.
Sahih al-Bukhari 7405
Sahih... أنا عند ظن عبدي بي وأنا معه إذا ذكرني ...
"I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me."
Another authentic hadith qudsi.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Itqan (al-Suyuti), Chapter on how the Quran was revealed. Distinguishes the Quran from hadith qudsi in wording and rulings.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.