OBSERVATION

 This question was under Hadith and it asked the candidates to explain various yardsticks that are used in the determination of authentic Hadith.  These criteria/yardsticks as required by the question are, as applicable to both Isnad and Matn -  the major components of Hadith.   These criteria which were applied to and carried out as a test on Isnad and Matn of a pool of ahadith after the demise of the Prophet (S.A.W.) include

• Non-contradiction of any Hadith with the text of the Qur’an.
• Non-prediction of future events with minute details.
• Non-violation of the law of nature by any Hadith.
• Trustworthiness of transmitters of Hadith.
• Unbroken/unquestionable link of Hadith transmitters with one another.
• Direct link of Hadith transmitters with the Prophet (S.A.W.).

 

Some candidates performed well in this question while some did not because they only explained the terms Isnad and Matn without examining the factors applicable to the authenticity of Hadith.