Silsilah
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Silsilah (Arabic: سلسلة) is an Arabic word meaning chain.
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[edit] 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 pronunciation) are given a chain of credible narrators linking to the Islamic prophet Muhammed.
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 Muhammed.
[edit] Sufi and Shia term
Sufi Sunnies and Shias use it idiomatically to mean a lineage of authentic spiritual Masters within their Sufi order.
[edit] Indonesia
The term is used as the title of royal family trees and family records of the rulers in the palaces of Java.
[edit] See also
- Isnad, Islamic System of Certification
- Sufi Order
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