Mustalah al-Hadith (Hadith terminology)
Definition: The knowledge of principles and rules to accept or reject a hadith after evaluating its
chain of transmission and text
Its basic concern:
1) Description of hadith terms and types
2) Studies ahadith from the viewpoint of its transmission and rules governing it (Dalalah)
3) Titles of hadith scholars and etiquettes of reception and delivery of hadith (alfaz al-
tahamul wal-‘Ada’)
Classification of hadith sciences
Reporting Understading
(Riwayah) (Dirayah)
Concerned Concerned
with with
1) Ensuring the authenticity of Conditions, modes
a hadith source and rules of hadith
2) Attributing texts to their transmission along
original authorities with its authenticity
3) Recognizing the methods and the transmitters
used in transmitting reports qualifications
4) Grasping the terminology
used by scholars
Hadith VS Khabar VS Athar
Hadith: (lit. new, story, tale) Whatever transmitted on the authority of the prophet, including his
physical and personal attributes
Khabar (Report): 1) Synonymous to hadith 2) Any report from anybody but the prophet
3) Any report from the prophet or anybody else
Athar (Vestige): 1) Synonymous to hadith 2) traditions about the companions and successors
Sanad-Isnad
Sanad and Isnad: the chain of narrators leading to the matn
Isnad (V): The process of ascribing a tradition to its original authority
authority
(Halted)
Number of narrators
(Solitary) (Consecutively recurrent)
I. Al-Mutawatir
Reported by a significant number of narrators at each level in the chain. This type is sufficient
assurance that the hadith is authentically attributed to its source
Basic requirements for Tawatur: 1) Numerous narrators 2) Diversity of location
3) Impossibility of collusion 4) Reported on the basis of sensory perception
1) Lafzi (Verbal consecutive hadith): Quoted verbatim
2) Ma’nawi (Conceptual consecutive hadith): Many reports having same meaning, different
wording
3) ‘Amali (Consecutively recurrent practice): practices recurrently transmitted by a large
amount of people throughout the ages… like the five daily prayers, Fasting… etc.
II. Solitary
Ahadith that doesn’t fulfill the conditions needed for Tawatur, may be narrated by 1, 2 or
3 at every level
Solitary types
I. Gharib (strange):
-Linguistically: peculiar, strange
-Technically: Hadith narrated by only one narrator at any link
1) Gharib Mutlaq (absolutely strange): when only one Companion relates it
2) Gharib nisbi (Relatively strange): when narrated from one single place or teacher
II. ‘Aziz (Scarce)
-Linguistically: from ‘azza meaning infrequent OR ‘izzah meaning strength
-Technically: has 2 narrators at any link
III. Mash-hur (Well-known, widespread)
-Linguistically: from shahara meaning renowned
-Technically: at least 3 narrators at every link
• Non-Technical mash-hur أحاديث مشهورة عند غير المحدثين
IV. Al-Mustafid
-Linguistically: derived from istifadah meaning overflow
-Technically:
a) At least 3 narrators at every link (mustafid=mash-hur)
b) 3 at some links but a link more than 3
c) 3+ at every link
d) Al-Mawardi says “more than mutawatir”
Authenticity
I. Sahih (Sound): hadith with a
1) Continuous, uninterrupted chain
2) Free of anomaly
3) Free of -obvious and subtle- defects
4) Narrated by an upright retentive (‘adl dabt) individual Dabt al-Sadr +
Dabt al-Kitab
A. Sahih li dhatih (Intrinsically sound): which meets the canons I just mentioned
B. Sahih li ghayrih (Extrinsically sound): originally hasan but substantiated
II. Hasan (Reliable)
1) Al-Khattabi: a hadith with a known source and famous transmitters
2) Al-Tirmidhi: narrator not accused of falsehood,)1> ( narration, no anomaly
3) Ibn Hajar: narrators haven’t attained the highest degree of accuracy (BEST DEF.)
4) Ibn al-Salah: hadith containing an outwardly acceptable individual whose
suitability hasn’t been confirmed, yet he isn’t careless OR narrator famous for
veracity but has shortcomings in retention
A. Hasan li dhatih (Intrinsically reliable): ibn hajar’s definition
B. Hasan li ghayrih (Extrinsically reliable): originally weak but substantiated
Al-Tirmidhi’s expressions1
• Hasan sahih gharib: is hasan as in several chains, sahih because the chains are
sound, gharib in terms of the wording narrated by him
• Hasan sahih: confused the scholars
a) Ibn hajar: (aw) is omitted
b) Ibn al-Salah: there are 2 isnads, one is hasan the other sahih
c) Ibn kathir: that’s an intermediate class
d) Ibn Daqid al-eid: hasan & sahih are in the same category (BEST DEF.)
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Legally effective and non-effective
(Decisive)
-Linguistically: from Ahkama meaning perfected
-Technically: Legally effective free from contradiction or objection
-Linguistically: contradictory or conflicting
-Technically: authentic ahadith which seem to be in conflict