<aside> 💡 Compilers of Hadiths made a number of checks to confirm the reliability of the narrator and the authenticity of the Hadith they related.

</aside>

📄 Parts of Hadith

• Isnad and Matn are the two parts of a Hadith that constitute its structure.

Isnad (Chain of Narrators)

• The first part consists of a chain of narrators, this is called isnad which means ‘support’ as it is the authority for establishing the genuineness of Hadiths.
• When the compilers of Hadiths examined the line of transmitters they ensured that the transmitters of authentic Hadiths were widely known to have met the people before and after them and that the last person in the chain was a companion of the Prophet.

Muhammad ibn Al-Muthanna reported from Abdul Wahhab, from Ayyub, from Abu Qilaabah, from Malik that the Prophet (pbuh) said ‘Pray as you see me praying.’ (Agreed).

• In this Hadith as in other Hadiths the list of narrators constitutes the sanad. The shorter the sanad the higher the chances of it being accurate.
• Also, to establish the genuineness of a Hadith the sanad needs to be unbroken leading back to the Prophet (pbuh).

Prerequisites

• The first person in the chain must know the Prophet directly
• The narrator must be a Muslim of firm faith.
• The chain of narrators must be complete and continuous (Not broken).
• The narrator must be known for his truthfulness and honesty.
• Have a good memory.
• He should be at an age where he understands the significance of what he hears and realises that the slightest change may change the meaning of the Hadith.
• He should report exactly as he heard the Hadith.

Importance of Isnad

• Isnads helped to document that a Hadith had truly come from the Prophet (pbuh).
• Since they helped establish religious practice and Islamic law as well as day to day conduct of an individual, it was important that only the genuine ones were documented for use etc.