to use the formula “He informed me” on the strength of that discovery alone, unless he already has from the author (1) an explicit license to transmit on his behalf. Some scholars (2) did allow such usage, but they were declared mistaken (3).

Likewise, there is the case of a testamentary bequest involving a book (4), namely (5) when, at the time of death or before undertaking a journey, a scholar entrusts his autograph copy or copies to a specific individual. A number of the early leading authorities (6) maintained that the recipient may transmit those originals merely by virtue of that bequest. The majority (7), however, rejected this view unless he also possesses from the scholar (8) a formal license.

[The ruling on transmission by a general license]

In the same way, they required (9) explicit permission for narration in the case of “notification” (iʿlām). This occurs when the shaykh informs one of his students, “I transmit such-and-such a book from So-and-so.” If the student already holds (11) a license from him (12), he may narrate; otherwise, that information carries no weight;