Pakistan International School Jeddah English Section

Academic Year: 2022–2023

Islamiyat 0493
Notes and Guidelines

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Chapter 6 History and Importance of Hadith

Topics • Musnad and Musannaf

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History and Importance of Hadith
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Generic Guidelines

➢ These notes are consisted of outlines OR the complete answer.

➢ Outlines are based on the IGCSE requirements with the reference of PPQs and
guidelines with examiner report for the relevant topics.
➢ These notes will serve the students as a mind map, in order to form a well-developed
answer.
➢ Students are required to use the given key points to develop the response in their
own words.
➢ For some topics notes are given in complete paragraph form to give idea how to
develop the answer
➢ References are also included within the notes to help students memorize

Musnad and Musannaf

Guidelines to Attempt the Question
Question related to this topic requires a comprehensive detail about the differences
between the two and their advantages along with examples must be well-developed, also
the way they are arranged, must be included. Following is suggested outline of this topic for
a well-developed response.
Outline

• Introduction of Hadith and importance of Hadith (in short)

• Musnad
➢ Definition of Musnad
➢ Examples of Musnad collection
➢ Benefits of Musnad collection

• Mussanaf
➢ Definition of Mussanaf
➢ Examples of Mussanaf collection
➢ Benefits of Mussanaf collection

• Main differences between two

• Conclusion– importance of these collections in the study of hadith

Note: Both Musnad and Musannaf are types of Hadith collections. They must not be
mixed with Kinds/Categories of Hadith.

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History and Importance of Hadith
© 2022 PISJES All Rights Reserved
 ‘Musnad and Musannaf’
Part ‘A’ (10 marks Question)

Students are required to recall, select and present relevant facts from the main elements
of the faith and history of Islam in part ‘A’.
Past Paper Questions, Mark Scheme and Examiner Report

Q 1 (a) - What do the Muslims generally understand by the terms:

• Isnad and Matn of Hadith (will be discussed under that topic)

• Musannaf & Musnad [10] (21-Oct/Nov-2014)
Examiner Report:
Confident responses were seen, especially for explaining the isnad and matn of hadiths.
Some did not know what the terms musnad and musannaf were.
As Question 2 is a compulsory one, and always related to hadiths, candidates should be able to
demonstrate familiarity with the subject matter. Those who knew the four terms were rewarded with high
levels for their knowledge.

Q 2 (a) - Write a detailed account of the Musannaf and Musnad collections of Hadith. [10]
(22-Oct/Nov-2019)
Note: (Both have the same answer but in 2014, description of isnad and matn to be added)

Marking Scheme
In answering this question candidates have to give a descriptive account of both the Musannaf and Musnad
collections of Hadith. The period in which they were produced could be written about.
The kind of work in which Hadiths are assembled together according to their theme is called musannaf.
Here again good answers could explain that the word musannaf means ‘divided up’ quite simply because it
divides the Hadiths according to their themes e.g., zakat; salat; inheritance etc.
They could say that it was the first organized work of Hadith collection and was made topic-wise. That the
Musannafs were mainly legal documents that developed during the first two centuries of Islam. E.g., The
Muwatta by Imam Malik is an early example of a Musannaf collection.
Well-developed answers could discuss how the Musannaf collection served an important function in law
and Hadith literature. Later scholars referred to Musannaf collections to know legal opinions of the
Companions and Successors and Hadith critics used them as evidence when establishing the authenticity
of a Hadith.
On the other hand, musnad means ‘supported’ and these Hadiths are listed under the names of the various
companions who come last in the transmission chains, and so guarantee the Hadith’s authenticity.

The late second/early third century AH saw a shift towards Musnad collections which were arranged
according to isnads. In these collections it could be said Hadiths were compiled under the name of the
narrator.
Candidates may well say that collections were organized by their compilers along isnad lines. Examples of
Musnad collections e.g., Musnad of Imam bin Hanbal and others could be given.
The shortcomings of the Musnad collection could be given as well. A comprehensive answer is being
looked for.
Examples of musannaf and musnad collections will be given by the more able candidates. To get to the
higher levels the candidates need to clearly state what each of the terms given in the question means and
how they are important in the study of Hadiths.
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History and Importance of Hadith
© 2022 PISJES All Rights Reserved
 Following is the sequence to attempt the question related to the ‘Musnad and Musannaf
Introduction:
The term Hadith is an Arabic word, comes from the word ‘Hadatha’, which literally means
communication. It also means new. “Hadith is a talk and which may be brief or elaborated.”
In islamic terminology, Hadith means the narration of the sayings, actions or silent approvals
(Taqrir) of Muhammad (SAW).
Compilers of hadith did a lot of effort in compiling Hadith books.
Different methods were adopted by the compilers of hadith books to compile their books.
Two well-known methods are:
(1) Musnad & (2) Musannaf

(1) Musnad (first transmitter)

• Musnad means ‘supported’

• In this type of collection, Ahadith are collected and arranged according to
the names of their original narrator irrespective of their subject or theme
• Ahadith in Musnad collections are gathered according to the
name of first transmitter which is companion
• Collector of musnad is known as ‘musnid’
• Musnad differs in their arrangement of authorities who related them.
In some they are arranged
 In alphabetical order
 According to their merit in acceptance of Islam or in taking part in the early important events of
Prophet (SAW)’s mission
 According to the affinity of their tribe to the Holy Prophet (SAW)

Benefit:
• Complete sanad is mentioned which allows the hadith to be traced back to Prophet (SAW) – and thus it
allows us to check the authenticity of Hadith
• This collection of ahadith is helpful in studying the life and work of particular narrator
• It is also useful for detecting Hadiths attributed to a particular Companion

Example:
• Musnad Ahmad bin Hambal – Books begins with companions closest to Prophet (SAW); his wives,
four rightly guided caliphs and 10 blessed companions etc. There are chapters by name of Musnad Abu
Bakr, Musnad Umer etc
• Musnad al-Humaydi
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History and Importance of Hadith
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 (2) Musannaf (main teaching of the Hadith)

• It means ‘divided up’ (as it divides the Hadith according to subject matter e.g., Zakah, inheritance etc)
• Ahadith narrated by different narrators on particular theme is collected in one chapter
• In this type of hadith collections, compilers compiled the Hadith based on the topic rather than the
narrator.
• Chapters on inheritance, purification, sale, marriage and divorce etc are part of Musannaf
• It is a comprehensive collection of Hadith
• In addition to ahadith, Musannaf also mention statements of the Sahabah and Tab’ieen

Benefit:
• This collection of ahadaith is useful in
understanding the Hadith related to particular topic or subject
• Useful for understanding the Prophet’s teachings on a particular
point of belief or practice.
• They are particularly useful in establishing matters of law.

Example:
• Al-Muawatta of Imam Malik – earliest collection
• Al- Musannaff by Abdul Razzaq
• Al- Musannaff by Ibn Abi Shaybah
_______________________________________________________________________________

Other types of Hadith Collections:

3) MU’JAM
4) JAMI
5) SUNAN
6) MUSTADRAK
7) ARBA’INIYYAT

For details about above Hadith Collections Refer Textbook Page à 189-190

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History and Importance of Hadith
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 Part ‘b’ (4 marks Questions)
Students are required to demonstrate understanding of their significance in the teachings
of Islam and in the lives of Muslims in part ‘b’
Past Paper Questions, Mark Scheme and Examiner Report

Q 1 b- Which in your opinion is more beneficial for Muslims to have; musannaf collections
or musnad collections of Hadiths? Give reasons for your answer. [4] (21-Oct/Nov-2014)

Q2 b- In your opinion, from the two Hadith collections above, which is the more useful to
Muslims? Give reasons for your answer. [4] (22-Oct/Nov-2019)

Examiner Report:
In Part (b), again, marks were lost by those who did not know what musnad and musannaf were; those who
did, in the majority of responses, thought that the musannaf collections were most beneficial and gave good
evaluative responses for their choice.

Marking Scheme

Candidates could give the benefits of both and then say which in their opinion they thought was more
beneficial and why. They could also simply select one of the two collections and say why in their opinion it
was the more useful one. In answer to this part question the candidate can either choose between the two
types of collection and say why in his/her opinion one is better than the other or state that both are equally
important and back that view with valid reasons.

All answers that are sound and offer good reasoning should be rewarded with higher levels. Whatever the
approach or choice it has to be backed by reasons.

Candidates are likely to prefer the musannaf collections as they are based on themes which help the
study of a particular topic and its practical application.

Guideline:
• Either choose between the two – explain why it is better than the other
• Or can say both are equally important – back the view with valid reasons

Past Paper Question and Marking Scheme

Q3 b- Explain the main difference of the musnad and the musannaf Hadiths. [4] (2009)

Marking Scheme

In answer to this part of the question candidates can eiher choose between the two types of collection and
say why in his/her opinion one is better than the other or state that both are equally important and back their
view with valid reasons. All answers that are sound and offer good reasoning should be rewarded with higher
levels.

Candidates are likely to prefer the musannaf collections as they are based on themes which help the study
of a particular topic and its practical application.

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History and Importance of Hadith
© 2022 PISJES All Rights Reserved