The definition requires five conditions jointly:
1. ʿAdalah: relevant narrators meet the standard of moral uprightness.
2. Complete dabt: each narrator preserves and delivers the report with high accuracy.
3. Ittisal: every chain-link is established and the report was actually received from the relevant teacher.
4. No disqualifying ʿillah: no subtle defect undermines the report despite its outward appearance.
5. No shudhudh: the report does not conflict with a more preponderant transmission.
Failure of one condition prevents a report from qualifying as sahih li-dhatihi, even when its remaining features are excellent. In certain cases a limited and remediable shortfall may be compensated by independent support; that produces a different accepted category and requires separate analysis.