Defining Sahih Li Ghayrihi

The Shaykh: A hadith that is authentic in itself and a hadith that is authentic through other means. This concept is well-understood by some strong students of knowledge, but not by others. Some of them asked: How can a hadith be authentic through other means? They know well about a hadith being good (hasan) through other means, but as for a hadith being authentic through other means, they have not grasped this terminology. So I said to my companion with whom I was discussing: Have you considered if a hadith came with ten chains of narration, like the two chains mentioned? Is it reasonable that we continue to call it good (hasan) through other means? No, it has risen in rank and increased in strength upon strength. Then I took comfort in a phrase I had read from al-Hafiz al-Suyuti, where he said regarding a mass-transmitted report (mutawatir): "It is not required to investigate the men of the chains of narration," because this mass transmission saves us from investigating the individual chains of narration and the individual narrators.
The student: This is correct, meaning.

The Shaykh: Ah, so I took a benefit from him and thus I coined the term "authentic through other means" (sahih li ghayrihi).
The student: Yes, coining a term...

The Shaykh: This is authentic in itself, which is well-known, and this is authentic through other means. As for good (hasan) in itself and good (hasan) through other means, it does not need explanation because it is well-known and frequently used.