SCIENCES OF ADTH

The knowledge of the principles through which we

know the condition of different narrators and
transmitters
The knowledge of rules and maxims through
which we know the conditions of the text and the
transmission

BRANCHES
'Ilm al-Riwyah () : The knowledge
of the principles by which the condition of
the chain of transmitters and the
transmitted (i.e. text) is known
'Ilm al-Diryah () : The knowledge of
the understood meaning from the text of the
adth (i.e. what is meant by the adth)

The SUBJECTS of the sciences of adth

are the words and sayings of the Prophet ,
his deeds, sayings and tacit approvals as
well as his characteristics
Learning the sciences of adth is part of the
collective obligation (far al-kifyah).
Neglect of it would lead to a collective
failure of the ummah

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

identify the accepted as well as rejected adth;
distinguish between authentic, agreeable, weak &
forged adth
instill confidence & satisfaction amongst Muslims
with authentic adth
acknowledge, promote & evaluate the efforts of
Muslim scholars who worked hard to preserve
adth
protect the adth from any possible corruption
= protect the Islmic Shar'ah and preserve it
from distortion and forgery

BASIC TERMS

adth



New (
)X eternal/old ()
Communication, Story, Conversation (;)
Religious or Secular, Historical or New

Qur'nic usage of the word adth

[23 : ]

Allh has revealed (time after time) the most beautiful adth (message)
in the form of a book
[9 : ]

Has the adth (story) of Ms reached you?

TERMINOLOGY - ADTH
Scholars of adth (al-Muaddithn): what was
transmitted on the authority of the Prophet , his
deeds, sayings and tacit approvals, or description
of his physical features and moral behaviour
Jurists (al-Fuqah'): what was transmitted on the
authority of the Prophet , his deeds, sayings and
tacit approvals

Sunnah/

a way, course, rule, mode or manner,

of acting or conduct of life /
continuous tradition

al-Muaddithn: synonymous with adth, since the Prophets sayings,

actions, tacit approvals and his moral behaviour is a mode of life to be
emulated by Muslims
Scholars of Ul al-Fiqh: the Prophets sayings, actions, tacit approvals
which establishes rulings
Scholars Fiqh: what was transmitted from the Prophets which is not
obligatory, i.e. recommended (mandb/mustaab)
Theologians (): the antonym of heresy (bid'ah)

Khabar/

news/information

synonymous with adth

other than adth, i.e. what was transmitted on the authority of other than
the Prophet
a general term: what was transmitted on the authority of the Prophet and
others

Athar/

what was left behind

synonymous with adth

other than adth, i.e. what was transmitted on the authority of other than
the Prophet from amongst the companions ( )and successors (;)
their sayings, actions, tacit approvals, and physical/moral attributes
a general term: what was transmitted on the authority of the Prophet , his
companions and successors

COMPONENTS OF ADTH
: : :
:
: :
... :
Chain of Transmitters / :
Sanad: sth. lean against, sth.
which supports, sth. to hold on to
Sanad: the chain of transmitters
which lead to the text

Text /
Matn: sth. strong or
firm, backbone
Matn:
Where the chain of
transmitters end
Part of the adth which is
comprehensible

Sanad/

al-Sanad al-Sfil/al-Nzil (/) :

A chain of transmitters with MORE
number of transmitters compared to other
chain(s) of transmitters of a particular
adth

Synonyms:
al-arq ()
al-Wajh ()
al-Isnd ()
al-Sanad al-'l () :
A chain of transmitters with LESS
number of transmitters compared
to other chain(s) of transmitters of
a particular adth

Isnd ( ): an addition of sth. to sth.

attributing a adth to whom it is transmitted from
synonymous to sanad

LEVEL OF SPECIALISTS
1- Amr al-Mu'minn () : highest recognition for someone who
not only memorises adth but also masters the science of riwyah &
diryah during a particular period, that he is elevated to the status of
imm or leader in this field and is highly respected by scholars. (eg.
Shu'bah, al-Bukhr, Muslim, Sufyn al-Thawr, Ibn ajr etc.)
2- Al-kim (): a scholar who has exceptional command of all
aspects of adth, which includes the text, chains of transmitters,
conditions and biographies of transmitters. (eg. Ibn Dnr, Mlik,
Shfi' etc.)
3- Al-ujjah (): a scholar whose memory of adth is depended on
and referred to by other memorisers. (eg. Hishm ibn 'Urwah,
Muammad ibn Amr etc.)

LEVEL OF SPECIALISTS
4- Al-fi (): a scholar who can verify the authenticity of the
chain of transmitters and has the knowledge of the conditions of the
transmitters / one whose ignorance is very minute compared to his
knowledge of the branches in the sciences of adth
5- Al-Muaddith (): a scholar whose concern is adth and its
sciences and generally has good mastery of it
6- Al-Musnid (): a person who relates adth with its chain of
transmitters, whether he has the knowledge of it or not. i.e. his major
concern is transmitting adth
7- lib al-adth () : a person who is studying about adth
and its sciences