He mentioned the tradition of the line. Sufyan said: We did not find anything to strengthen this tradition with, and it did not come except from this direction.
Sufyan said: I said to Sufyan: They differ regarding it. He reflected for a moment and then said: I do not remember except Abu Muhammad ibn Amr. Sufyan said: A man came here after Isma'il ibn Umayyah died and sought this shaykh, Abu Muhammad, until he found him and asked him about it, and he became confused to him.
Abu Dawud said: I heard Ahmad ibn Hanbal being asked about the description of the line more than once, and he said: Like this, horizontally, like the crescent.
Abu Dawud said: I heard Musaddad say: Ibn Dawud said: The line is length-wise.
Abu Dawud said: I heard Ahmad ibn Hanbal describing the line more than once, and he said: Like this -- meaning -- across, all around, like the crescent, meaning curved.