But, when he reached Dhu al-Halifah, he (the Prophet) – as...

📌But, when he reached Dhu al-Halifah, he (the Prophet) – as narrated by ‘Affan – said: “ None can convey it except myself or a man from my .” So, he sent ‘Ali with it (instead).[^12] Note that Hamad b. Salamah is occasionally referred to as al-Ma’ni, as documented by Ibn Asakir (d. 571 H): …. أبو شبل وحسن يعني ابن موسى قالا نا حماد بن سلمة المعني عن ثابت …. .... Abu Shibl and Hasan, that is Ibn Musa – Hamad b.

Salamah al-Ma’ni – Thabit....[^13] Therefore, there should no confusion due to this new phrase “al-Ma’ni”. Shockingly, Shaykh al-Arnaut says about the above chain of Musnad Ahmad : إسناده ضعيف لنكارة متنه Its chain is da’if due to the repugnancy of its matn (content)[^14] This is a rather disturbing manner of weakening asanid ! So, if someone does not like the content of a hadith , he is free to declare its patently reliable sanad as dha’if only on that basis?!

Meanwhile, al-Arnaut has authenticated a very similar chain in the same book: حدثنا عبد الله حدثني أبي ثنا عبد الصمد وعفان قالا ثنا حماد ثنا ثابت عن أنس .... إسناده صحيح على شرط مسلم ‘Abd Allah – my father (Ahmad b. Hanbal) – ‘Abd al-Samad and ‘Affan – Hamad – Thabit – Anas.... Its chain is sahih upon the standard of Muslim .[^15] The only difference is: instead of Simak, there is Thabit. But, what does al-Arnaut say about Simak?

Here are his words: حدثنا عبد الله حدثني أبي ثنا معاوية بن عمرو ثنا زائدة قال ثنا سماك بن حرب عن عبد الرحمن بن القاسم عن أبيه عن عائشة ....إسناده صحيح على شرط مسلم ‘Abd Allah – my father (Ahmad b. Hanbal) - Mu’awiyah b. ‘Amr – Zaidah – Simak b. Harb – ‘Abd al-Rahman b. al-Qasim – his father – ‘Aishah....

Its chain is sahih upon the standard of ( Sahih ) Muslim .[^16] In other words, Shaykh al-Arnaut is fully well aware that the chain of Hadith al-Ada – which he baselessly discredits – is truly sahih upon the standard of Sahih Muslim !

Imam al-Tirmidhi too records about the Prophet’s practicalization of the hadith : حدثنا محمد بن بشار حدثنا عفان بن مسلم و عبد الصمد بن عبد الوارث قالا حدثنا حماد بن سلمة عن سماك بن حرب عن أنس بن مالك قال: بعث النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم ببراءة مع أبي بكر ثم دعاه فقال لا ينبغي لأحد أن يبلغ هذا إلا رجل من أهلي فدعا عليا فأعطاه إياه Muhammad b. Bashar – ‘Affan b. Muslim and ‘Abd al-Samad b. ‘Abd al-Warith – Hamad b. Salamah – Simak b. Harb – Anas b.

Malik: The Prophet, peace be upon him, sent Abu Bakr with Barat to Makkah.

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