The History and Importance of Hadith
Masnad and Musannaf collections
The compilers of the book of Hadith compiled their books adopting different methods. Masnad
and Musannaf are 2 well known methods of compilation of Hadith.
Masnad Collections:
Masnad means supported
It refers to the collections of Ahadith in which the material is arranged according to the
names of their original narrators irrespective of their subject matter or theme.
Ahadith which form a part of the Masnad collections are gathered according to the
name of the first transmitter who is a companion.
The entire Isnad is mentioned which allows the hadith to be traced back to the Holy
Prophet (S).
Such a collection is helpful in studying the life and work of a particular narrator.
The best example of this kind of collection is Masnad Ahmed bin Hanbal, which consists
of 27,700 Ahadith (of which one fourth to one third are repetitions of Ahadith via
different narrations)
the book begins with the Companions who were closest to the Prophet (S); his wives,
the 4 Rightly Guided Caliphs, and the 10 blessed Companions etc.
For example, there are chapter by the name of Masnad Abu Bakr, Masnad Umar etc.
(Refer to teacher’s notes as well)
Musannaf Collections
In this type of collection, the traditions are arranged according to the subject matter.
The word Musannaf literally means ‘a compilation with divided up Ahadith’
All traditions reported by various narrators on a particular theme were put together in
one chapter.
The compilers examined the Matn rather than the Isnad.
, For example, chapters on inheritance; purification, sale, marriage and divorce etc. are
part of Musannaf compilation.
Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik bin Anas, the founder of the Maliki School of Law, is one of
the earliest collections of this type.
It contains 1720 Ahadis.
In later stage 6 authentic books were compiled using this principle.
Musannaf compilation is helpful in understanding teachings relating to a particular
subject matter or topic.
Musannaf collections served a very important function in law, Hadith literature and
Hadith criticism.
Later scholars would turn to Musannaf collections to know the legal opinions of the
Companions and Successors, and Hadith critics would use them as evidence when
investigating whether a Hadith was really in the words of the Prophet (S) or a statement
actually made by a Companion or Successor.
(Refer to teacher’s notes as well)
Kinds of Ahadith:
Hadiths are divided into various Categories mainly on the basis of the
degree of genuineness.
Authentic Hadith:
Also known as Sahih Hadis
A Hadis is said to be Sahih if it is not contrary to the other ahadis that have already been
accepted by the authorities on the subject as authentic or reliable.
Nor should it contradict the text of the Quran
The consensus of the community- Ijma
Or the basic principles of Islam.
It should not be against the dictates of reason or common sense, or the laws of nature.
, It should not level accusation against the family of the Prophet (S) or his companions
Or praise a particular person or tribe,
Should not be opposed to recognized historical facts.
It should not mention any incident which, if it had happened would have been known
and reported by other people, while that incident was not reported by anyone except
the particular reporter.
It should not lay down punishments for minor offences or promise high rewards for
insignificant good deeds
Or if the narrator himself confessed that he had fabricated the report.
The Sanad must be full and unbroken
And each narrator mentioned in it must be known for his knowledge, piety, memory and
trustworthiness.
The narrators must have met each other and the chain of information must go back to
the Holy Prophet (S)
The best Sanad consists of those narrators who met the person relating a Hadis and the
person to whom they related it.
The chain of transmission should be unbroken.
The narrators should be at an age at which they could understand the importance of
what they had heard.
The report of a child or an insane person could not be accepted.
The narrator must be a Muslim.
The higher the qualification of a narrator, the greater the authority of a tradition
reported by him.
There is not even a slight defect in the memory or conduct of any of its reporters
Who fulfill all strict conditions of qualifying to be reliable reporters of Hadith, thus
making a flawless Sanad.
The accuracy of these Ahadith is absolutely beyond question
Hence, these Ahadith are classified as ‘sound’ and ‘trustworthy’
Meaning that they are of the highest level of authenticity and reliability.
Ahadith reported by Bukhari and Imam Muslim are universally accepted by Islam’s
orthodoxy as sahih.
This fulfills all requirements of Matn (Text) and Sanad/ Isnad (chain of transmitters of
Hadith)
The example of such Hadis is:
“Modesty produces nothing but good” and “Purity is part of faith”
Next in terms of reliability is:
2) Approved or Hasan Hadis
Masnad and Musannaf collections
The compilers of the book of Hadith compiled their books adopting different methods. Masnad
and Musannaf are 2 well known methods of compilation of Hadith.
Masnad Collections:
Masnad means supported
It refers to the collections of Ahadith in which the material is arranged according to the
names of their original narrators irrespective of their subject matter or theme.
Ahadith which form a part of the Masnad collections are gathered according to the
name of the first transmitter who is a companion.
The entire Isnad is mentioned which allows the hadith to be traced back to the Holy
Prophet (S).
Such a collection is helpful in studying the life and work of a particular narrator.
The best example of this kind of collection is Masnad Ahmed bin Hanbal, which consists
of 27,700 Ahadith (of which one fourth to one third are repetitions of Ahadith via
different narrations)
the book begins with the Companions who were closest to the Prophet (S); his wives,
the 4 Rightly Guided Caliphs, and the 10 blessed Companions etc.
For example, there are chapter by the name of Masnad Abu Bakr, Masnad Umar etc.
(Refer to teacher’s notes as well)
Musannaf Collections
In this type of collection, the traditions are arranged according to the subject matter.
The word Musannaf literally means ‘a compilation with divided up Ahadith’
All traditions reported by various narrators on a particular theme were put together in
one chapter.
The compilers examined the Matn rather than the Isnad.
, For example, chapters on inheritance; purification, sale, marriage and divorce etc. are
part of Musannaf compilation.
Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik bin Anas, the founder of the Maliki School of Law, is one of
the earliest collections of this type.
It contains 1720 Ahadis.
In later stage 6 authentic books were compiled using this principle.
Musannaf compilation is helpful in understanding teachings relating to a particular
subject matter or topic.
Musannaf collections served a very important function in law, Hadith literature and
Hadith criticism.
Later scholars would turn to Musannaf collections to know the legal opinions of the
Companions and Successors, and Hadith critics would use them as evidence when
investigating whether a Hadith was really in the words of the Prophet (S) or a statement
actually made by a Companion or Successor.
(Refer to teacher’s notes as well)
Kinds of Ahadith:
Hadiths are divided into various Categories mainly on the basis of the
degree of genuineness.
Authentic Hadith:
Also known as Sahih Hadis
A Hadis is said to be Sahih if it is not contrary to the other ahadis that have already been
accepted by the authorities on the subject as authentic or reliable.
Nor should it contradict the text of the Quran
The consensus of the community- Ijma
Or the basic principles of Islam.
It should not be against the dictates of reason or common sense, or the laws of nature.
, It should not level accusation against the family of the Prophet (S) or his companions
Or praise a particular person or tribe,
Should not be opposed to recognized historical facts.
It should not mention any incident which, if it had happened would have been known
and reported by other people, while that incident was not reported by anyone except
the particular reporter.
It should not lay down punishments for minor offences or promise high rewards for
insignificant good deeds
Or if the narrator himself confessed that he had fabricated the report.
The Sanad must be full and unbroken
And each narrator mentioned in it must be known for his knowledge, piety, memory and
trustworthiness.
The narrators must have met each other and the chain of information must go back to
the Holy Prophet (S)
The best Sanad consists of those narrators who met the person relating a Hadis and the
person to whom they related it.
The chain of transmission should be unbroken.
The narrators should be at an age at which they could understand the importance of
what they had heard.
The report of a child or an insane person could not be accepted.
The narrator must be a Muslim.
The higher the qualification of a narrator, the greater the authority of a tradition
reported by him.
There is not even a slight defect in the memory or conduct of any of its reporters
Who fulfill all strict conditions of qualifying to be reliable reporters of Hadith, thus
making a flawless Sanad.
The accuracy of these Ahadith is absolutely beyond question
Hence, these Ahadith are classified as ‘sound’ and ‘trustworthy’
Meaning that they are of the highest level of authenticity and reliability.
Ahadith reported by Bukhari and Imam Muslim are universally accepted by Islam’s
orthodoxy as sahih.
This fulfills all requirements of Matn (Text) and Sanad/ Isnad (chain of transmitters of
Hadith)
The example of such Hadis is:
“Modesty produces nothing but good” and “Purity is part of faith”
Next in terms of reliability is:
2) Approved or Hasan Hadis
