An illustrative transmission pattern is given: Ahmad ibn Hanbal narrates from al-Shafiʿi, who narrates from Malik ibn Anas, while other narrators also transmit the report at the relevant stages so it does not remain gharib.
Ahmad ibn Hanbal → al-Shafiʿi → Malik ibn Anas
The purpose is to illustrate the scholarly eminence and meticulous transmission associated with these leading imams. This is not a full takhrij of a specific hadith text; it is an example of a type of chain.
Where genuine parallel transmissions are established at the relevant levels, the lack of isolation combined with exceptionally accurate masters can strengthen the argument for inferential knowledge.