and the manner (1) of compiling it may be as follows: one may arrange it by the musnads, collecting the musnad of every (2) Companion separately. If he so wishes, he may order them according to their precedence in Islam (3), or, if he prefers, alphabetically, which is easier to handle.
Or he may organize it by topical chapters—fiqh-related or otherwise—so that, within each chapter (4), he gathers everything transmitted on that subject that indicates its ruling, whether confirming or negating it. What is preferable is to restrict himself to what is authentic or sound; but if he decides to include everything, then let him clarify the defect in what is weak.
Or he may compile it (5) on the basis of ʿilal (hidden defects) (6): he cites (7) the text, its various transmission routes, and explains the points at which its narrators differ. The best practice is to arrange these too by chapters, making them easier to consult.
Or he may gather it by aṭrāf, mentioning (8) the opening words (9) of the hadith that point (10) to the rest of it, and collecting (11) its chains of transmission—either exhaustively, or in a form limited (12) to specific books.