Ulum al-Hadith: Isnad and Matn
9 Grade 10 Religious Education (IRE) questions on Ulum al-Hadith: Isnad and Matn, with worked marking schemes. 9 questions are available on this topic in full.
Question 1
4 marksAbdullah ibn al-Mubarak said that the isnad is part of the religion, and that without it anyone could say whatever he wished (reported by Muslim in the introduction to his Sahih). Explain two ways in which the isnad system has protected the Sunnah. (4 marks)
(4 marks)
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1 markA report that is traced back to a companion of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) and records only that companion's own words or actions, not the Prophet's, is classified as
A. Munqati'
B. Mawquf
C. Marfu'
D. Maqtu'
(1 mark)
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4 marksA message on a class WhatsApp group begins, 'The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) said...', urges readers to forward it to ten people, and ends with the line 'Shared by a pious sheikh'.
(a) Identify two weaknesses of this message based on the criteria of isnad. (2 marks)
(b) Outline two things a Muslim youth should do before sharing such a message. (2 marks)
(4 marks)
Marking scheme
(a) Any two of the following, 1 mark each (2 marks): - It has no chain of narrators linking it to the Prophet (P.B.U.H.). - The source, 'a pious sheikh', is unnamed and unknown (majhul), so his uprightness and precision cannot be checked. - It does not refer to any recognised hadith collection, such as Bukhari or Muslim, where its chain could be traced. - Its continuity cannot be established, since no one can show who heard it from whom. (b) Any two of the following, 1 mark each (2 marks): - Verify it in a recognised hadith collection or a reliable reference. - Ask a qualified imam, ustadh or IRE teacher about its authenticity. - Check its grading (sahih, hasan, da'if or mawdu') before sharing. - Refrain from sharing if it cannot be verified, remembering the warning against lying about the Prophet: 'Whoever lies about me deliberately, let him take his seat in the Fire' (Bukhari and Muslim). - Remember the hadith that it is enough of a lie for a person to narrate everything he hears (Muslim, introduction to his Sahih). - Examine whether its content contradicts the Qur'an or established Sunnah.
Question 4
6 marks(a) Name the two grades of hadith whose rulings are accepted as evidence in Islamic law. (2 marks)
(b) Explain two ways in which the classification of hadith helps a Muslim in day-to-day religious practice. (4 marks)
(6 marks)
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4 marksA learner finds this report in a collection: 'Malik said: It reached me that the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) said...'. Imam Malik ibn Anas was born about 93 A.H., more than eighty years after the Prophet's death in 11 A.H.
(a) Identify the defect in the isnad of this report. (2 marks)
(b) Explain why such a defect affects the authenticity of the report. (2 marks)
(4 marks)
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6 marksDraw a table with two columns headed 'Isnad' and 'Matn'. Under each heading, write three criteria used to determine the authenticity of a hadith. (6 marks)
(6 marks)
Marking scheme
Table drawn with correct headings and criteria placed in the correct column. Any three correct criteria in each column, 1 mark each (6 marks). A criterion in the wrong column earns no mark. Isnad (any three): - The chain must be continuous, with each narrator having heard from the one before him back to the Prophet (P.B.U.H.). - Every narrator must be upright ('adl) and truthful. - Every narrator must be precise in memory or record (dabit). - Each narrator must be known, not anonymous (majhul). - Narrators must have been contemporaries who could have met. - The chain must be free from hidden defects ('illah). - The chain must not contradict narrations of more reliable narrators (free from shudhudh). Matn (any three): - It must not contradict the Qur'an. - It must not contradict an established (mutawatir) Sunnah. - It must not contradict sound reason or established facts of history and nature. - Its language must be eloquent and befitting the speech of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.). - It must not promise exaggerated rewards for minor deeds or severe punishment for minor sins. - It must not unjustly favour a particular tribe, ruler, person or place. - It must not contain obscene or indecent language. - A matter of great public importance should not be reported by only one person when many would have witnessed it.
Question 7
1 markStudy the report below. 'Yahya related to me from Malik, from Nafi', from Abdullah ibn Umar, that the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) said: "Prayer in congregation is better than prayer alone by twenty-seven degrees."' (Muwatta of Imam Malik) The part 'Yahya related to me from Malik, from Nafi', from Abdullah ibn Umar' is the
A. matn, the text of the report
B. sharh, a later scholar's commentary
C. takhrij, the source reference
D. isnad, the chain of narrators
(1 mark)
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1 markA hadith reported at every stage of its chain by so many narrators that it is impossible for them to have agreed upon a lie is classified as
A. Mutawatir
B. Mashhur (Mustafid)
C. Aziz
D. Gharib (Fard)
(1 mark)
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4 marksOutline four qualities a muhaddith (narrator of hadith) should have for his or her narration to be accepted as reliable. (4 marks)
(4 marks)
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