The chain of transmitters (sanad) plays an important role not only in
determining the qualification of prophetic tradition but also in Islamic studies in
general. In addition, scholars of hadîth have regarded chain of transmitters as
citadel and mace of Muslim society. The author argues that the existence of sanad
distinguishes Islamic community from other religious groups in reconstructing
the authenticity of the teaching of the Islam. It is for this reason that scholars of
hadîth have invested a great deal of efforts and serious study on sanad until they
were finally capable of formulating a general theory that shall become guidelines
in the study of prophetic tradition. This paper is an attempt to discuss the
historical origin of sanad criticism as well as analyze the extent to which this
theory contributes to verifying the authenticity of Islamic precepts.
Kata Kunci: sanad, matn, shahîh, hadis maudhu‘