[replicamuse]

What is a Musnad hadith

[Anckzxik]

What is a Musnad hadith

The Musnad is a compilation of hadith attributed to Ahmad b. Hanbal.

It is not included in the Sahih al-Sittah, or six collections regarded as "sahih" - which are usually called Sunnan.

Sahih Bukhari, collected by Imam Bukhari (d. 870), includes 7275 ahadith
Sahih Muslim, collected by Muslim b. al-Hajjaj (d. 875), includes 9200 ahadith
Sunan al-Sughra, collected by al-Nasa'i (d. 915)
Sunan Abu Dawood, collected by Abu Dawood (d. 888)
Jami al-Tirmidhi, collected by al-Tirmidhi (d. 892)
Sunan ibn Majah, collected by Ibn Majah (d. 887)

It is, however, a major compilation and frequently referred to.

Here is a short article on Imam Ahmad at Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imam_Ahmad_ibn_Hanbal

Salaam,

Abu Marwan

[AmericaAirline 111]

What is a Musnad hadith

The term can mean different things depending on the context.

If a hadith is referred to as "musnad," it means that its chain of narrations is free of any breaks (i.e. it is muttasil) and extends all the way to the Messenger (i.e., it is marfu').

The term can also refer to a compilation of hadith arranged according to the names of Sahabah. The most famous of such compilations is the Musnad of Imam Ahmad.

[Anckzxik]

Assalamu alaikum Godil Ali,

Thanks for this explanation.

Your explanation accords with that of Mustafa Azmi, who describes five criteria for the acceptance of hadith:

1. Continuity of the chain of transmitters (ittisal assanad)
2. Integrity of the transmitters ('adalah)
3. Soundness of memory of the transmitters
4. Coformity of hadith (he means consistancy between sources)
5. Absence of defects ('illah) - free from all problems when closely scrutinized

I'm not sure how this last one forms an independent category, but that's what he said.

So, "hadith musnad" would refer to this first criterion.

These are the five criteria Azmi gives:

1. Continuity of the chain of transmitters (ittisal assanad)
2. Integrity of the transmitters ('adalah)
3. Soundness of memory of the transmitters
4. Coformity of hadith (he means consistancy between sources)
5. Absence of defects ('illah) - free from all problems when closely scrutinized

Hadith are then classified using a moderately complex taxonomy. Terms in the taxonomy refer to various of the five criteria. So marfu' relates to the examination of the isnad - as you have explained.

The system is a little confusing. I've used Azmi's descriptions of his taxonomy to create a diagram that you can find here.

• Click the "Start Brainstorming" button to display the diagram.
• Click (+) symbols to expand the diagram.

My source is a short article by M M Azmi in a booklet titled "The Place of Hadith in Islam" Muslim Students' Association of the United States and Canada, (IIPH, no date).

Azmi is probably best known for his rebuttal of Joseph Schacht's thesis that the hadith record is largely or entirely a forgery.

More on Dr Azmi here


Salaam,

Abu Marwan

[RuttyUttepe]

How many hadiths are there in musnad ahmad? i think its 30000? Am i right?

[AmericaAirline 111]

Assalamu alaikum Godil Ali,

1. Continuity of the chain of transmitters (ittisal assanad)
2. Integrity of the transmitters ('adalah)
3. Soundness of memory of the transmitters
4. Coformity of hadith (he means consistancy between sources)
5. Absence of defects ('illah) - free from all problems when closely scrutinized

I'm not sure how this last one forms an independent category, but that's what he said.

So, "hadith musnad" would refer to this first criterion.

One of the ways to classify a hadith is by considering where the chain of narrators leads to, i.e. to whom the hadith is attributed:

- If the chain goes all the way back to the Prophet and the hadith comprises of his statements, actions, acquiescence, or his physical traits, then this is referred to as marfu.'
- If the hadith does not go that far back and only comprises of the statements or actions of a sahabi, then it is referred to as mawquf.
- If the hadith does not go that far back and only comprised of the statements or actions of a tabi'i, then it is referred to as maqtu'.

You should be aware that being marfu', mawquf, or maqtu' does not necessarily mean that a particular narration is sound or weak. A marfu' hadith can fit into any one of the categories of a hadith that deal with its authenticity, meaning a hadith can be both marfu' and sahih, marfu' and hasan, marfu' and da'if, etc.

For a hadith to be "musnad," it must be both marfu' and have ittisal al-sanad (which, as you mentioned, also happens to be one of the 5 conditions for a hadith to be classified as sahih).

Ali

[AmericaAirline 111]

As far as the 'illah is concerned, it is probably more appropriately translated as a "hidden defect" or a "subtle defect." A hadith mu'allal, is a hadith that seems to be sound on the surface, meaning that it fulfills the first four conditions, but when scrutinized by an expert muhaddith, suffers from a "hidden defect." Such defects can be found in either the matn (text) or the sanad (chain) of a particular hadith. However, only a hadith scholar with comprehensive knowledge regarding the ahadith with similar wording or regarding a similar topic as well as detailed information regarding narrators' dates of birth/death, travels, teachers, students, etc. can discern an 'illah. Scholars of this level of expertise are almost non-existent in our era. I'll try and post a few examples of hadith mu'allal later, inshallah.

[Anckzxik]

Assalamu alaikum Ali,

Thanks. This is becoming a little more clear to me now. There are multiple, overlapping criteria that are a little difficult for me to conceptualize since I've mostly heard this explained in a linear way. This became really clear when I was working on the diagram. Almost all of the complex terminology has to do with descriptions of Da'if hadith. These terms come up in discussions where hadith are rejected on various and complex grounds.

As for sources that have legal import, only Sahih and Hassan may be employed, according to Azmi. Both of these satisfy all five criteria.

I was confused about the term "hadith musnad" - this seems to have little actual meaning, since "musnad" is not a category but refers to one of five criteria for acceptability. Such criteria is not, in itself, sufficient to qualify a narration for any of the traditionally described categories.

However, the questioner did seem to be asking about a designation like this, and not about any compilation of hadith named "Musnad."

I suppose they will ask again, if it is important.

Thanks for this interesting discussion. I've learned a lot.

Salaam,

Abu Marwan

[Anckzxik]

As far as the 'illah is concerned, it is probably more appropriately translated as a "hidden defect" or a "subtle defect." A hadith mu'allal, is a hadith that seems to be sound on the surface, meaning that it fulfills the first four conditions, but when scrutinized by an expert muhaddith, suffers from a "hidden defect." Such defects can be found in either the matn (text) or the sanad (chain) of a particular hadith. However, only a hadith scholar with comprehensive knowledge regarding the ahadith with similar wording or regarding a similar topic as well as detailed information regarding narrators' dates of birth/death, travels, teachers, students, etc. can discern an 'illah. Scholars of this level of expertise are almost non-existent in our era. I'll try and post a few examples of hadith mu'allal later, inshallah.

Assalamu alaikum Ali,

Thanks again for your trouble with this. The category 'illah is a little difficult to understand. The terminology I posted comes from Azmi. I don't know if this has been translated or if he wrote it himself in English. Anyway, 'illah seems to overlap other categories and the only thing unique about it would be that the "defect" is not apparent until it is very closely examined. But one would expect close examination as a matter of course.

Azmi also explains this concept in connections with the fifth of his five criteria: Absence of defects.

He says,

"A defect ('illah) in Hadith is defined as a hidden defect in the Hadith which takes away from its authenticity. A Hadith whih has such a defect is one which appears to be free from defects at first while after investigation it is discovered that it has a certain defect which would not be apparent without investigation. The defect can be in the chain of transmitters or in the text or both." This actually says very little - which suggests a bad translation: Illah is a hidden defect. Hidden means that you cannot see it until you look closely.

That's clear as mud.

Yes. Do post examples if you can find the time. That would be very helpful. Jazaak Allahu Kharan.

Salaam,

Abu Marwan

[AmericaAirline 111]

Thanks. This is becoming a little more clear to me now. There are multiple, overlapping criteria that are a little difficult for me to conceptualize since I've mostly heard this explained in a linear way. This became really clear when I was working on the diagram. Almost all of the complex terminology has to do with descriptions of Da'if hadith. These terms come up in discussions where hadith are rejected on various and complex grounds.

You've understood correctly, mashallah. There are multiple, overlapping criteria, and to make things even more complicated, at times certain terminologies are used to mean different things by different scholars (eg. the world munkar is generally used to refer to a hadith narrated by a weak narrator that contradicts narrations of reliable narrators; however, some of the earlier scholars used to use the word munkar to describe a hadith that was reported by only one narrator, irrespective of that narrator's reliability). This phenomenon is more prevalent amongst the earlier hadith scholars. Post ibn al-Salah, the science became more ossified, so the usage of these various terminologies became fairly uniform.

[FYvWldC0]

I am getting a headache!! It think it has reached the state of haq!

و عليكم السلام

Hadith al-Musnad is the Hadith whose Sanad is linked to the Prophet SAWS.