Matn (literally "body", "text" http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/06920741222847284199079/p0000002.htm) is a Islamic term that is used in relation to Hadith evaluation. It means the text of the hadithhttp://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/islam/bldef_matn.htm, excludin the isnad.

Use

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A hadith is maed of both a isnad (chain of transmission) matn.

A hadith would typically adopt the following formula:

"It was related to me by A, on the authority of B, on the authority of C, on the authority of D, from E (here a companion of Muhammad) that the Prophet said: '... -and the matn' would follow.

The matn would most often come in the form of an injunction, proverb, aphorism, brief dialogue or anecdote whose sense might apply to a range of new contexts.

Shi'a use

The Shi'a science of hadith outright rejects all hadith that they view contradict the Qur'an. This due to what they perciev as instructions from the Shi'a Imam.

References

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