and thus becomes fair, even though it is authentic and singular. For a fair hadith is one transmitted through multiple routes, none of whose narrators is accused of lying. If it is authentic through both routes, it is authentic without qualification; but if the authenticity of one of the two routes is not known, it is fair. Its chain may be singular, in that it is known through that chain only by that particular route, while its text is fair because it has been transmitted through two routes.

This is why he says, “On this subject, there are also reports from so-and-so and so-and-so.” Its meaning thus has corroborating reports showing that its text is fair, even though its chain is singular.

If he also calls it authentic, it will have been established through an authentic route and transmitted through a fair route, thus combining authenticity and fairness. It may be singular through that particular route, being known through that chain only by that route. Even if it is authentic through that route, it may still be authentic and singular. There is no difficulty in this; the difficulty lies only in combining fairness and singularity. As explained above, it may be singular and fair, then become fair; it may also be fair and singular in the two senses mentioned.

As for mass-transmitted reports, the correct position, held by the majority, is that mass transmission requires no fixed number of transmitters. Rather, whenever the reports of those conveying them yield certainty, the report is mass-transmitted. The majority likewise hold that the certainty gained varies according to the circumstances of those conveying the report. A small number of people may convey a report that yields certainty because of factors establishing their truthfulness, whereas a report conveyed by many times their number may not yield certainty. Hence, the correct view is that a solitary report may yield certainty when accompanied by supporting indications that yield certainty.