(1) “It is not appropriate to mention it,” i.e. it would be impossible because of its sheer size and length. (2) Ahmad ibn Ali ibn al-Muthanna al-Tamimi al-Mawsili, Abu Ya‘la, a renowned hadith scholar. Al-Dhahabi called him “the muhaddith of Mosul.” He wrote several works, including a Muʿjam and two Musnads (one short, one long). A reliable, upright and meticulous transmitter, he died in 307 AH/919 CE at the age of ninety-nine. See: Shadharat al-Dhahab 2:250; al-Aʿlam 1:171. (3) The printed edition adds: “with his isnad (chain of transmission).” (4) ʿAbd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim—(Ibrahim is Abu Shaybah)—ibn ʿUthman, Abu Bakr ibn Shaybah al-Kufi, originally from Wasit; a well-known, trustworthy hadith master of the tenth generation. He died in 235 AH/849 CE. See: Taqrib al-Tahdhib 1:445, no. 589. (5) The printed text reads “Yazid,” which is an error; all manuscripts have “Zayd.” (6) Zayd ibn al-Hubab, Abu al-Husayn al-ʿAkli, resident of Kufa, originally from Khurasan. Ibn Hajar notes: “reliable, though he errs in narrations from al-Thawri.” Muslim and the other five of the Six Books—except al-Bukhari—narrate from him. He died in 203 AH/818 CE. See: Taqrib al-Tahdhib 1:273, no. 178. (7) Jaʿfar ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn ʿAli ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn Jaʿfar ibn Abi Talib. Ibn Hibban said his reports are acceptable provided they are not through his father. See: al-Jarh wa-l-Taʿdil 2:474, no. 1928; Lisan al-Mizan 2:106–7, no. 432. (8) ʿAli ibn ʿUmar ibn ʿAli ibn al-Husayn ibn ʿAli ibn Abi Talib. Ibn Abi Hatim and al-Bukhari list him without passing judgment; al-Bukhari simply notes that Jaʿfar ibn Ibrahim narrated from him. See: al-Jarh wa-l-Taʿdil 6:196, no. 1078; al-Tarikh al-Kabir 6:289, no. 2431.