The word · Hadith
السَّنَد
Sanad
The chain itself, the line of narrators supporting a text, used almost interchangeably with isnad.
Also written · Sened · Sanadd · Sanads · Asanid · Chain of narrators · Sanad hadith · Isnad · Sanad e hadith
The meaning
What Sanad means in Islam
The root means to lean something against a support. Strictly, sanad is the chain and isnad is the act of citing it, but in practice scholars use each word for the other. A strong sanad does not by itself make a strong hadith, because the text can still carry a hidden defect.
Evidence · Editorial · Our own summary, drawn from the sources named
Read beside it
Words that sit beside it
- IsnadThe chain of narrators who carried a hadith, listed name by name back to its source.الإِسْنَاد
- MatnThe actual wording of a hadith, the part that comes after the chain of narrators.المَتْن
- IllahA hidden flaw in a hadith that looks sound on the surface, found only by expert comparison.العِلَّة
More from Hadith
- AdalahThe uprightness of a narrator: sane, adult, Muslim, not openly sinful, not known for shameful habits.العَدَالَة
- GharibA hadith narrated by only one person at some point in its chain.الغَرِيب
- Jami'A hadith book that covers every subject, not only law: belief, manners, tafsir, history and more.الجَامِع
- Mawdu'A fabricated report, invented and then attached to the Prophet; not really a hadith at all.المَوْضُوع
- MusannafA collection arranged by legal topic that includes Companion and follower statements alongside hadith.المُصَنَّف
- Riyad al-SalihinAl-Nawawi's topical collection on character and worship, the hadith book most widely read by ordinary Muslims.رِيَاضُ الصَّالِحِين