This, then, is what the author of al-Masābīḥ intends when, by way of criticism, he remarks of a report, “This ḥadīth is gharīb.”

Some scholars, however, explain shādh (irregular) as merely a narration transmitted by a single narrator, without taking into account his divergence from the reliable transmitters, as noted earlier. Hence they speak of a “ṣaḥīḥ shādh” report and a “ṣaḥīḥ non-shādh” report.

In that sense, shudhūdh (irregularity) no more negates authenticity than does singularity. What is cited as a ground for censure is specifically the narration that conflicts with the trustworthy transmitters.