The Book on Fasting - Jami' at-Tirmidhi

Hadith Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 722

Hadith Text

(Another chain) with the same or similar (Hadith as no. 721).

Scholarly Commentary

This narration indicates the practice of multiple chains of transmission (turuq) for the same prophetic tradition, which strengthens the authenticity and reliability of the hadith. When scholars find the same text transmitted through different companions and chains of narrators, this constitutes mutawatir or mustafid transmission, providing greater certainty about the preservation of the Prophet's teachings.

The mention of "similar" content acknowledges minor variations in wording that do not affect the core meaning - a common phenomenon in hadith transmission known as al-riwayah bil-ma'na. Such variations are acceptable when the essential legal or doctrinal meaning remains unchanged, demonstrating the scholarly precision in preserving both the text and meaning of prophetic traditions.