Silsilah (Arabic: ( سلسلة )) is an Arabic meaning chain. The Arabic language ( ), or simply Arabic ( ), is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... The Arabic language ( ), or simply Arabic ( ), is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ...

Historic Importance

Historic Arabia did not have schools for formal education. Students went to masters who taught them and upon perfection gave them Ijazah (permission) which acted as the certification of completion of education. A graduate then acted as a master having his own students. This chain of masters was known as Silsilah. In a modern fashion where degrees of only recognized universities are accepted, the certification of a master having a long chain of masters was the only acceptable one.

Silsila can be of a partial knowledge or a book as well. All Hafiz (memorizers of Quran), Muhaddiths (narrators of Hadiths), Qaries (reciters of Quran with correct accent and pronounciation) are given a chain of credible narrators linking to Prophet Muhammed. Hafiz or Hafez (Arabic: حافظ), literally meaning guardian, is a term used by Muslims for people who have completely memorized the Quran. ... Muhaddith is an Islamic title, referring to one who profoundly knows and narrates hadiths, the chains of their narration (saneed), and the original and famous narrators. ... a Qari in the Islamic tradition is a reciter of the Quran, the holy text of Islam. ... For other people named Muhammad, see Muhammad (disambiguation). ...

An example of Hadith's silsila is Imam Al-Bukhari's declaration that the most authentic chain of narrators (Isnad) is that of Malik by way of Nafi` by way of Ibn `Umar. Al-Bukhari described this chain as the Golden Chain (Al-Silsilah Al-Dhahabiyyah).

Even today, when there are formal religious schools known as Madrasah, traditional madrassas will mention in their certification, the chain of masters linking to Prophet Muhammed. A Madrasah complex in Gambia Ulugh Beg Madrasa, Samarkand, ca. ...

Sufi and Shia Term

Sufi Sunnies and Shias use it idiomatically to mean a lineage of authentic spiritual Masters within their Sufi order. Sufism (Arabic تصوف taṣawwuf) is a system of esoteric philosophy commonly associated with Islam. ... Shia Islam, also Shiite Islam, or Shiism (Arabic:شيعة, Persian:شیعه translit: ) is a denomination of the Islamic faith. ...

See Also

Islamic System of Certification The isnad (Arabic اسناد or in Quranic era Arabic اسند) are the citations or backings that establish the legitimacy of the hadith, which are the sayings of Muhammad, Prophet of Islam. ...