Misidentifying the antecedent of “his grandfather” may change the person in a chain and therefore alter judgments about generational placement, possibilities of hearing, and continuity.
A suitable investigation proceeds by: 1. Identifying the narrator and his father fully; 2. comparing the possible grandfathers' dates and generations; 3. checking alternate isnāds for an explicit name; and 4. selecting the identification best supported by reliable evidence.
Example: One version says only “from his grandfather,” while a parallel chain gives a full name. If both concern the same transmitter and report, the explicit identification can resolve the otherwise ambiguous relationship.