The Differences Between the Formulas of Narration: Qala, 'An, and Sami'tu

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, is there a difference between a narrator saying, "The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said," or saying, "from the Prophet," or saying, "I heard it from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)"?

Answer:
They all carry the same meaning, but "from the Prophet" — this "from" — allows for the possibility that he heard it directly, and it allows for the possibility that he heard it from someone else. This is what they call "from the way of hearing." If he says, "I heard the Messenger of Allah say such and such," that is explicit. But "from the Messenger of Allah" allows for the possibility that he heard it, and it allows for the possibility that he heard it from someone else, or that it was reported to him from someone else, and he did not hear it from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) himself. Therefore, "hearing from above" (indirect transmission) is considered by them one of the defects in the chain of narration.