Rules Governing the Criticism of Hadeeth

Introduction

"The isnad is part of the religion: had it not been for the isnad, whoever wished to would have said whatever he liked."

During the lifetime of the Prophet (SAS) and after his death, his Companions (Sahabah) used to refer to him when quoting his sayings. The Successors (Tabi'un) followed suit; some of them used to quote the Prophet (SAS) through the Companions while others would omit the intermediate authority - such a hadith was known as mursal (loose). It was found that the missing link between the Successor and the Prophet (SAS) might be one person, i.e. a Companion, or two persons, the extra person being an older Successor who heard the hadith from the Companion. This is an example of how the need for the verification of each isnad arose. Malik (d. 179) said,

"The first one to utilise the isnad was Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri" (d. 124 AH).

Part 1 : Mustalah al-Hadith and Rijal
Part 2 : The Classification of Hadeeth - According to the reference to a particular authority
Part 3 : The Classification of Hadeeth - According to the link found among the reporters
Part 4 : The Classification of Hadeeth - Mutawatir and Ahad ahadith
Part 5 : The Classification of Hadeeth - According to the manner in which the hadith is reported
Part 6 : The Classification of Hadeeth - According to the nature of the text itself
Part 7 : The Classification of Hadeeth - According to a hidden defect found in the isnad or text of a hadith
Part 8 : The Classification of Hadeeth - According to the reliability and memory of the reporters
Part 9 : Further Branches of Mustalah and Rijal-al-Hadeeth

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