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Most of the time, people use Hadith to knock the other person down.
Crisis of Authentication
(We sent them) with Clear Signs and Books of dark prophecies; and We have sent down unto thee (also) the Message; that thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent for them, and that they may give thought. (Quran 16:44).
"Those who follow the apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures),- in the law and the Gospel;- for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is they who will prosper." (Quran 7:157).
Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah. (Quran 33:21)
O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination. (Quran 4:59)
Quran says not to abandon the sunnah, because of these verses we need to develop the Ulum al-Hadith. Most of the time people use Hadith to knock the other person down. The intent of this discussion here is to demystify the mystery land called Hadith.
Ilm al-isnad
A reference system, which relied mainly on the chain of narration from the Prophet (Pbuh) to the person purporting that the Prophet made a particular statement. This chain of narration, from the Prophet to the Hadith transmitter, is known as the isnad of the hadith.
The assessment of isnads of hadith gave rise to two extensive branches of hadith science.
Ilm asma’ al-rijal (The biographies of men)
It deals with the biographies of narrators, such as who lived when and where, and who learned from whom etc. Mastery of this science afforded scholars the opportunity to spot forged isnads.
Ilm al-Jarh wa al-Ta`dil (The science of criticism of narrators)
Al-Jarh means ‘to criticize’, ‘to injure’ and Tadil means ‘to correct’. The science of “criticism of narrators” is more difficult. It entailed an attempt to grade the reliability and the veracity of each hadith narrator, and to assess whether he or she could “be trusted” to accurately convey the message of the Prophet .
Critique of the Matn
Matn means body of the text itself. This Matn, or content is also used by the scholars in grading the authenticity of hadith.
Qualifications of a narrator:
Should be a Muslim
Should have good memory
Fairness, truthfulness
He should attend Juma prayer
He should have never drunk liquor
Imam Shafi’i added the following:
To narrate hadith in verbatim and should not play with the words.
He should not be a Mudallis, who puts his own opinion.
Anatomy of Hadith
Sanad - to support; to lean on
Matn - body of hadith itself; the back of the camel
Each hadith will contain Sanad and Matn.
People criticize the sanad extensively rather than matn because by criticizing matn they were concerned that it may be taken as criticizing the Prophet himself.
Evaluation according to Sanad
Mutawatir (Consecutive)
• Mutawatir hadith is the strongest of the hadith category.
• It is a hadith, which is reported by such a large number of people that they cannot be expected to agree upon a lie, all of them together. There should be more than three reporters, equally in the beginning, in the middle and at the end.
• Mutawatir hadith is a rarity.
• Mutawatir hadith is a matter of aqeedah (the creed).
Mash’hur (Famous)
• Hadith reported by more than two reporters.
Ahad (Single chain; isolated)
• Hadith does not impart certainty; all are possible, but not certainty
Based on all of the above Hadith is classified as
All the six imams seldom considered the content (matn), but the sanad.
Later, the scholars of hadith worked on matn (authenticity of content) as discussed below:
• Hadith al-Ahad contradicting Quran or Hadith al-Mutawatir.
• As-Suyuti who lived until 911 A.H. said, “If you encounter or quote a hadith that is contrary to the reason or what is against the accepted Islam, it is considered forged.”
• If a hadith contradicts the Quran or Mutawatir hadith or consensus of ulema.
(The writer is Sr. Advisor, Muslim Public Affairs Council -MPAC)
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