Brown believes the theory "fails" to adequately account "for the atmosphere of conflict" of at least early  hadith criticism. The "method of choice" of partisans seeking to discredit opposing schools of Islamic law was to discredit the authorities (transmitters) of their opponent's  hadith—to "tear apart" their isnads".
Brown believes that the theory does not sufficiently account for "the atmosphere of conflict" in early hadith criticism. The method commonly used by those seeking to discredit opposing schools of Islamic law is to challenge the credibility (transmitters) of their opponents' hadith, thereby undermining their authority ("tearing apart" their isnads).