The Shaykh’s clarification of the intended meaning of al-Mundhiri, al-Haythami, and others when they say, regarding some chains of narration in later books, “Its narrators are the narrators of the authentic collections,” and an explanation of this.

The Shaykh : However, I am currently in the process of writing an introduction that includes some elaboration on certain foundational principles of hadith and usul al-fiqh, particularly those related to this book. This is based on the fact that I am in the process of publishing the two parts of this book: the first is “Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib” and the other is “Da'if al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib.” I am in the process of writing an introduction for these two books, and I mentioned there that when the author says, regarding what al-Tabarani narrated, “Its narrators are the narrators of the authentic collections,” and likewise when al-Hafiz Nur al-Din al-Haythami does so in his book “Majma' al-Zawa'id wa Manba' al-Fawa'id,” he acts as al-Mundhiri does in “al-Targhib.” Also, specifically regarding this hadith, he said what al-Mundhiri said: “Its narrators are the narrators of the authentic collections.” We must be aware of an important point here, which is: whenever we see al-Mundhiri, al-Haythami, and their like among the preservers of hadith saying, regarding a narration like this one from al-Tabarani or others, “Its narrators are the narrators of the authentic collections,” we must remember the following fact: this is a matter of predominance (taghlib). “Its narrators are the narrators of the authentic collections” is a matter of predominance, whereas it should be a matter of generality and inclusiveness. I mean, “Its narrators are the narrators of the authentic collections, except for al-Tabarani’s shaykh.” This is a consistent rule. Why? Because al-Tabarani’s shaykhs did not reach the level of the shaykhs of al-Bukhari and Muslim; they are below them in level, in era, and in years. So, a convention developed with some leniency. Unfortunately, when they say “Its narrators are the narrators of the authentic collections,” they look at the lowest narrator in the chain. In a chain like al-Tabarani’s, that person is one of the shaykhs of al-Bukhari and Muslim or one of them, and those above him, they say: “Its narrators are the narrators of the authentic collections.” But those below that level are not included in such an expression: “Its narrators are the narrators of the authentic collections.”The Shaykh : of al-Bukhari and Muslim. They are below them in level, in era, and in years. So, a convention developed with some leniency. Unfortunately, when they say “Its narrators are the narrators of the authentic collections,” they look at the lowest narrator in the chain. In a chain like al-Tabarani’s, that person is one of the shaykhs of al-Bukhari and Muslim or one of them, and those above him, they say: “Its narrators are the narrators of the authentic collections.” But those below that level are not included in such an expression: “Its narrators are the narrators of the authentic collections.”