A Companion reports “the Prophet said” but an intermediary remains to be assessed. How do attribution and authenticity relate?

Isnād, Matn, Explicit and Constructive Marfūʿ, and Mawqūf

• The Prophetic attribution is explicit; continuity and authenticity are separate issues
• An unclear intermediary turns the text into the Companion’s own opinion
• Any intermediary prevents marfūʿ attribution
• The phrase necessarily establishes ṣaḥīḥ li-dhātihi