Definition
The actual narrated content — the words attributed to the Prophet ﷺ — distinct from the isnād (chain). Even with a sound chain, the matn is critically examined for irregularity (shudhūdh) and contradiction with stronger evidence.
Pronunciation: matn
Etymology & Root
From م-ت-ن (m-t-n), meaning 'the strong back' or 'the firm part of something' — the substantive content the chain leads to.
Scholarly Notes
Critique of the matn (naqd al-matn) is a sophisticated discipline — checking the text against the Qur'an, mass-transmitted Sunnah, established principles, and historical reality.
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Related Terms
More from Hadith Terminology
Agreed upon by Bukhārī and Muslim.
Attributed directly to the Prophet ﷺ.
A Companion of the Prophet ﷺ.
Disconnected — a narrator missing in the chain.
Singular reports — not mutawātir.
A narration of the Prophet's ﷺ words, actions, or approvals.