The following is from Dr. Rafiq in his Introduction to Al-Hadith, p1, 4-6
Hadith (حديث)
Literal Meaning : The Arabic word Hadith literally means ‘statement’ or ‘talk’.
Ahaadith (أحاديث)
plural of Hadith.
Athar (اثر)
Literal meaning: Left over part of something, sign.
Technical meaning: It is used in three ways viz.,
1. Synonymous with Hadith.
2. That statement or act which is attributed to Sahaabah, Taabaeen.
3. That thing which is attributed to Sahaabah.
Sunnah (السنّة)
Literal meaning: Practice, habit.
Technical meaning:
1. Same as Hadith.
2. Practices of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)
3. That commandment which is proved by Qur’an and sunnah.
4. Antonym of Bid’at (innovation).
5. Demanded by Shari’ah in addition to Fardh and Wajib; on performance of which is reward and on avoidance of which there is punishment.
Sanad (سند)
Literal meaning: Support.
Technical meaning: Chain of transmission (The sequential list of names of a group of narrators who narrate a particular Hadith).
Matan (متن)
Literal meaning: The elevated hard part of earth.
Technical meaning: It is the text of the Hadith (that part of Hadith which is actually meant to be stated). It comes after Sanad i.e., chain of transmission.
Raawy (راوي)
Literal meaning: Narrator, one who narrates.
Technical meaning: Narrator of Hadith, everyone whose name comes in Sanad.
Marwy (مروي)
Literal meaning: That thing which has been narrated.
Technical meaning : Same as matan which comes after Sanad.
Muhaddith (محدّث)
That scholar who has enough knowledge of both wordings as well as the meanings of Hadith and is also well versed with the knowledge of narrations and narrators of Hadith.
Muhadditheen (محدّثين)
Plural of Muhaddith.
Haafiz-e-Hadith (حافظِ حديث)
It is defined in three ways:
1. One who has full knowledge of at least one lakh Hadith. (Uloom-ul-Hadith,Tadreeb)
2. Synonymous with Muhaddith.
3. Muhaddith who has enough knowledge about all the generations or Tabqat of narrators of Hadith.
Hujjat-e-Hadith (حجتِ حديث)
The Muhaddith who has complete knowledge of about three lakh Hadith. (Uloom-ul-Hadith)
Hakim (حاكم)
That Muhaddith who has such a strong hold on the knowledge of Hadith that hardly any part of it is left out of his knowledge. (Sharah-ul-Qari)
Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen fil Hadith (أمير المؤمنين في الحديث)
That Muhaddith who is superior to all the above mentioned Muhadditheen in all respects and whose opinion and research is seen with honour by all other contemporary Muhadditheen.
Some of the famous Muhadditheen who have been given this title are Sufiyan Thouri, Abdullah bin Mubarak, Ahmad bin Hambal, Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim. (Uloom-ul-Hadith)
Riwayat fil Hadith (رواية في الحديث)
It means to memorize or to write a Hadith first (Sanad and Matan), and then quote and pass on the same wordings to others.
Dirayat fil Hadith (دراية في الحديث)
It includes analysis of Hadith with its all related aspects. Only after such in depth analysis decision is taken whether one has to act as per this Hadith or not.
