Hadith Terminologyعلم الحدیث
An A–Z glossary of technical terms used in the science of Hadith
The vocabulary of Hadith studies is precise and technical. Each term carries specific meanings developed over centuries of scholarly work. This glossary provides definitions for the most essential terms, helping students and readers understand how Hadith scholars evaluate and classify narrations.
Sanad سند
The chain of narrators who transmitted the hadith from one generation to the next.
Matan متن
The actual text or body of the hadith — the words narrated from the Prophet ﷺ.The actual text or body of the hadith — the words narrated from the Prophet ﷺ.
Isnad إسناد
The act of attributing or linking a hadith back to its original source through a chain.
Sahih حسن
Good — a hadith with a sound chain but slightly less rigor than Sahih in narrator precision.
Da'if ضعيف
Weak — a hadith with defects in the chain or text that prevent it from reaching authentic status.
Mawdu' موضوع
Fabricated — a narration falsely attributed to the Prophet ﷺ, considered the weakest category.
Mutawatir متواتر
Mass-transmitted — narrated by so many independent chains that forgery is impossible.