its transmitters are more reliable, or have better retention, or are more versed in jurisprudence (1), or the continuity of the chain is clearer (2)—then there is no doubt (3)(4) that in such a case (5)(6) the descending chain is to be preferred.
As for anyone who gives blanket priority to descending chains and argues that the large amount of investigation involved entails hardship and thus earns a greater reward (7), such a preference rests on a consideration wholly extraneous to the work of authentication and grading (8).
[Convergence]
(Within relative elevation) there is also “convergence,” meaning to reach the teacher of one of the two compilers by a route other than his own, that is, a route that leads to that specific compiler (9)(10).
Example (11): al-Bukhari narrates a hadith from Qutaybah, from Mālik … . Were we to transmit it through his chain, there would be eight transmitters between us and Qutaybah (12). But if we were to transmit that very hadith (13) through Abū al-ʿAbbās al-Sarrāj, from Qutaybah, for instance, there would be (14) seven (15)(16) between us and Qutaybah.
(1) In B and W the wording is “awthaqu, ahfazu, afqahu” (more reliable, more retentive, more knowledgeable), all marked for the nominative; the adopted reading follows A, J, H, and K.
(2) In B and W the word “azharu” (more manifest) appears in the nominative; the preferred reading is that of A and H.
(3) A, Y, and K read “yutaraddad” (is in doubt).
(4) The preposition “fi” (in) is absent from W.
(5) D reads: “fa la taraddad an yakuna” (there is then no doubt that it is), while one copy has in its margin: “fa la yataraddad fi anna al-nuzula” (there is no hesitation that the descent …).
(6) The adverb “hina’idhin” (then) is missing from H.
(7) Al-Ramahurmuzi attributes this view to some critical scholars; see Al-Muhaddith al-Fasil, p. 216, and Ibn al-Salah, Muqaddima, p. 264.
(8) On the margin of D, in the author’s hand, is the note: “thumma balagha kadhalik” (then it likewise reached).
(9) H and Z read “fi al-‘ulu” (in the height).
(10) A reads “alladhi” (who/which).
(11) D adds “law” (if).
(12) B adds “fihi” (in it).
(13) The word “al-hadith” (the hadith) is not found in M.
(14) A and B read “kana” (was).
(15) The preposition “fihi” (in it) is missing from B.
(16) D reads “sitta” (six).