Preserving the Sunnah

Hadith are the recorded sayings and actions of the Prophet. To ensure no fabrications entered the religion, scholars like Bukhari and Muslim developed 'Ilm al-Rijal' (Science of Men) to evaluate the biography of every single narrator.

The Components of Hadith

• Sanad (Chain): "A narrated to B, who narrated to C, that the Prophet said..." The chain must be unbroken, and every person in it must be known for memory and piety.
• Matn (Text): The content must not contradict the Quran or established reason.

Grading System

• Sahih (Authentic): Flawless chain and text.
• Hasan (Good): Reliable, but with slightly less memory precision in the chain.
• Da'if (Weak): Missing link or unknown narrator. Not used for law.
• Mawdu (Fabricated): A lie forged against the Prophet.