Modernists And Hadith Rejecters by Sajid A. Kayum

Thus, a Hadeeth consists of two main
parts Sanad and Matn
Sanad: Sanad or Isnad, is the chain of
narrators that lead to the text of the Hadeeth.
The Sanad consists of all those who narrated the
text, starting with the last narrator (who records the
Hadeeth in his book) and ending with the Prophet.
Following is the Sanad of the Hadeeth mentioned before...
Al-Bukharee > Musaddad > Yahyaa > Shu'bah >
Qataadah > Anas > Prophet Muhammad r.
Matn: The text of the Hadeeth or what the Prophet actually said or
did is called the Matn. In the Hadeeth mentioned before, the
Matn is, "None of you truly believes until...”
Even though the text (Matn) of a Hadeeth may seem to be logical and
reasonable, it needs an authentic Sanad with reliable reporters to be
acceptable. The Sanad is thus the most important part of the Hadeeth
as it is the bridge leading to the Hadeeth itself.
Abdullah bin al-Mubarak (d.181AH), one of the teachers of
Imam al-Bukharee said, "The Isnad is from the Deen (religion). If it
wasn't for the Isnad anyone would say anything he wished." Hence,
one must be careful only to take his religion from people who are
trustworthy and who can trace what they have said back to the
Prophet rand this can only be done through the use of isnad.
During the lifetime of the Prophet and after his death, his
Companions (Sahabah) used to refer to him directly, when quoting
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