The author—may Allah have mercy on him—said:
7. That which is ascribed to the Prophet is called “marfūʿ,” … while whatever is ascribed to a Successor is “maqṭūʿ.”
Here the author introduces two kinds of ḥadīth, “marfūʿ” and “maqṭūʿ,” which constitute the fourth and fifth categories enumerated in the poem.
From the standpoint of the person to whom the report is attributed, ḥadīth falls into three divisions:
- Marfūʿ.
- Mawqūf—the poet does not treat it here but will do so later.1
- Maqṭūʿ.
These three differ according to where the chain of transmission terminates.
• If the chain ends with the Prophet ﷺ, the report is marfūʿ.
• If it ends with a Companion, it is mawqūf.
• If it ends with someone after the Companions, it is maqṭūʿ. Maqṭūʿ is distinct from munqaṭiʿ, as will be explained.
Marfūʿ is whatever is attributed to the Prophet ﷺ—whether a statement, an action, or an approval.
Example of a statement: the Prophet ﷺ said, “Actions are only by their intentions, and every person shall have only what he intended.”2 This is marfūʿ as a statement.
Example of an action: the Prophet ﷺ performed ablution and wiped over his leather socks. This is marfūʿ as an action.