An Explanation Of The Fact That the Isnaads Are The Route By Which Sharee'ah Rulings Are Known
Abdullaah Ibn al-Mubaarak said, "The Isnaad is from the religion". And he also said, "The Isnaad, in my view, is from the religion, and had it not been for the Isnaad, then anyone who wished could say whatever he wished".
He also said, "The example of the one who seeks the affairs of his religion without an isnaad is like the one who tries to ascend to the roof without stairs."
And Abu Eesaa Ahmad bin Yahyaa bin Muhammad bin Shaadhaan al-Jawharee said, "My grandfather narrated to me saying: "I asked Alee bin al-Madeenee about the isnaad of a hadeeth that I had forgotten", so he said to me, "Do you know what Abu Sa'eed al-Haddaad said? He said: The Isnaad is like the staircase. So if your foot slips from the step, you will fall. And ra'i (i.e. opinion without a hadeeth) is like pasture-land."
Sufyaan ath-Thawree said, "The Isnaad is the weapon of the believer, so if he does not have it with him, with what shall he fight?".
