He further qualified it with the word “complete” (1), alluding thereby (2) to the highest degree of authenticity.
A connected (muttasil) isnād is one whose chain is free of any break, every transmitter having heard the narrated report directly from his teacher.
The term isnād—its definition has already been given (3).
Linguistically, a muʿallal report is one that possesses a flaw; in technical usage it is one that contains a hidden, detrimental flaw.
Linguistically, shādhdh means “singular” (4); technically, it is a narration in which the transmitter (5) contradicts someone more reliable than himself. A second definition will be mentioned later (6).
Note:
His phrase (7) “a solitary report” (8) functions as the genus, while the remaining qualifiers act as differentiating attributes.
His statement “transmitted by an upright narrator” is a precaution (9) that excludes what is transmitted by anyone lacking uprightness (10).
(1) MSS A, B, and C read wa-qayyada (with a fatḥa on the yāʾ), while the adopted wording follows MSS D, H, W, and M. Al-Laqani states in Qaḍaʾ al-Waṭar, p. 673, that the verb can be parsed in either the active or the passive voice.
(2) MS D has ishāratun (indefinite nominative); the preferred form is that of MSS A, C, and W.
(3) MS B reads taʿrīfahu (accusative), whereas MSS C, H, and K supply the adopted reading. See p. 85.
(4) MS L reads al-mufrad (the singular).
(5) MS T shows al-rāwī fīhi with the two words transposed.
(6) MS T reads tafsīrātun sataʾtī (“explanations will follow”) in place of tafsīrun ākhara sayatī (“another explanation will follow”). See p. 178.
(7) The phrase qawluhu (“his statement”) is absent from MS D.
(8) MS K reads al-wāḥid (the one).
(9) MSS T and L have iḥtirāzan (indefinite accusative), but the reading of MSS A, B, C, D, H, W, Z, Ḥ, Y, K, and M is adopted.
(10) MSS W and Z read ʿadl (justice).