Isnad (Chain of Narration)
The chain of narrators connecting a hadith back to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Isnad is the chain of narrators connecting a hadith back to its original source, typically the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The isnad system is unique to Islamic scholarship and is considered one of the most sophisticated methods of historical verification in the ancient world.
Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak said: "Isnad is part of the religion. Were it not for isnad, anyone would say anything." Hadith scholars (muhaddithin) developed detailed criteria for evaluating each narrator: their memory, honesty, precision, and whether they had actually met the person they narrated from.
Regarding prayer legislation, isnad is crucial because many details about how to perform the prayer are only known through hadith. Imam Muslim dedicated the introduction of his Sahih to a discussion of the importance of isnad scholarship, and Imam al-Bukhari was famous for his strict evaluation of chains of narration.
Related terms
Du'a al-Faraj (The Supplication of Deliverance)
A short, powerful supplication for Imam al-Mahdi's appearance and deliverance from suffering.
Iqamah (Second Call to Prayer)
The second call to prayer, recited just before the prayer begins.
Khalifah (Caliph/Successor)
The political and religious leader of the Muslim community after the Prophet's passing.
Jumu'ah (Friday Prayer)
The weekly congregational prayer on Friday, which replaces Dhuhr.
Qiyas (Analogical Reasoning)
Legal analogy used to derive Islamic rules for new situations based on established rules.
Tawassul (Intercession/Mediation)
Seeking nearness to Allah through holy persons such as the Prophet and Ahl al-Bayt.