Hadith of Golden Chain Hadith of Golden Chain Hadith al-Silsilah al-Dhahab () (Hadith of the Golden Chain) is a hadith narrated from Ali al-Ridha, the eighth Imam of the Shia. The "chain" is a reference to the continuity of spiritual authority which is passed down from Muhammad to Ali ibn Abi Talib, through each of the Imams, to Imam Ridha. As transmitters of Hadith, the Imams link subsequent generations to the teachings of Mohammad. This transmission makes the Hadith of the Golden Chain valued as among the most truthful and accurate of all Hadiths for the Shi'ite. The hadith is important to shia because
Hadith terminology "musnad" ( meaning "supported") "hadith" as: A "musnad hadith" should not be confused with the type of "hadith" collection similarly termed "musannaf", which is arranged according to the name of the companion narrating each "hadith". For example, a "musnad" might begin by listing a number of the "hadith", complete with their respective "sanads", of Abu Bakr, and then listing a number of "hadith" from Umar, and then Uthman ibn Affan and so on. Individual compilers of this type of collection may vary in their method of arranging those Companions whose "hadith" they were collecting. An example of this type of