Write an account of the following three categories of Hadiths: • Sound Hadith (Sahih) • Good Hadith (Hasan) • Weak Hadith (Da'if).

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [10] (a) Candidates could say that Hadiths are generally classified according to the quality of the text, truthfulness and reliability of narrators, and continuity in the chain of transmitters (isnad).
2. [10] (a) Sound/Sahih Hadith is a term used to describe any Hadith whose accuracy is beyond question. The narrators of these Hadiths are renowned for their honesty, truthfulness and strong memories and there is no break in the chain of narrators.
3. [10] (a) The answer can be developed by saying that a sound Hadith is one whose line of transmission goes back to the Prophet (pbuh). To check its authenticity, compilers developed specific rules governing the acceptance of the narrators transmitting Hadiths and established rules to check the chain of transmitters and what they said (isnad and matn) of Hadiths. The books of Imam Bukhari and Muslim are examples of Sahih Hadiths.
4. [10] (a) Good/Hasan Hadith are Hadiths whose text is absolutely true, but whose narrators (isnads) do not pass the test of complete reliability and accuracy of memory based on the strict criteria established by a specialist (Muhadditheen). The Hadith in this group, though considered reliable and good, are a degree less in quality than the Sahih Hadiths and hence are considered inferior to them in Hadith literature.
5. [10] (a) Weak/Da'if Hadith are those whose truthfulness in both text and transmission is not beyond question. Though their authenticity is not proven they are not rejected altogether.
6. [10] (a) A Hadith could be weak for many reasons, for example, one of its narrators may not be well known for his piety or reliability, but the compiler has no evidence that would question the narrators' character. The narrator could have a less than perfect memory, but his truthfulness was never questioned. Weakness in a Hadith could be due to interruption in the isnad.
7. [4] (b) One reason could be that Hadiths are used in making Islamic law and for this purpose it would be critical to know whether a Hadith was Sahih or Da'if as in legal matters only the most authentic Hadiths can be used to prevent incorrect law making.
8. [4] (b) Weak Hadiths also have a place in Hadith literature, and it is important to classify them. They explain and provide information on questions relating to morals and religious devotion and thus keep the faith pure and its practice correct.
9. [4] (b) Candidates may give an example of a weak Hadith to develop their answer further.