sanad

Sanad is a term used across Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and related languages, typically meaning support, a backing, or a chain. In many contexts it denotes a sequence or link that provides legitimacy or continuity, such as a chain of transmission or a formal document.

In Islamic scholarship, sanad refers specifically to the isnad, the chain of narrators through whom a hadith is transmitted. The sanad is paired with the matn, the text of the report, and together they form the basis for judging a hadith’s authenticity. Classical scholars developed systematic methods to evaluate the reliability of narrators, examining factors such as memory, honesty, and scholarly reputation. Based on the assessment of the chain and the text, hadiths are classified as sahih (authentic), hasan (good), or da’if (weak), among other categories. The isnad system emerged in the early centuries of Islam and became a central tool in hadith criticism, jurisprudence, and theology.

Beyond hadith studies, sanad also means a formal document, certificate, or charter. In Arabic, Persian, and Urdu-speaking regions, a sanad can denote a deed, title, license, or official credential. Historical and contemporary usages include land grants or title deeds (land sanads), government permissions, and professional or educational certificates. In South Asia, the word is commonly used for bureaucratic documents that certify possession, eligibility, or entitlement, as well as for official recognitions issued by authorities.

Today, sanad retains both senses: as a scholarly term in hadith studies describing the transmission chain, and as a general term for certificates, deeds, or administrative documents in various linguistic communities. The word is often transliterated as isnad in English-language discussions of Islamic texts.