We say: if the one who narrates it as traced back to the Prophet is trustworthy, then this defect is not discrediting and does not render the hadith weak. What renders a hadith weak is a discrediting defect, whereas this does not discredit it. For one who narrates a hadith from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, may sometimes relate it without attributing it to the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. This occurs frequently, especially outside a context of adducing evidence. In a context of adducing evidence, however, he must trace it back to the Prophet. Even assuming that it is a statement of Abu Sa'id, such a matter is not said on the basis of personal opinion; it therefore carries the ruling of being traced back to the Prophet. For Abu Sa'id could not have known of this reward himself, so it is, in legal effect, traced back to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

Surah al-Kahf has distinctive merits, among them that whoever recites its opening verses against the Dajjal will be protected from his trial. (1) The Dajjal is the one-eyed man whom Allah will send forth at the end of time. He will remain on earth for forty days: the first day will be like a year, the second like a month, the third like a week, and the fourth and the remaining days like ordinary days. His trial will be immensely grave. Thus, there was no prophet who did not warn his people against him, (2) and our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, instructed us to seek Allah’s protection from his trial in every prayer, after the final tashahhud and before the salutation. (3) Some hadiths state that whoever memorizes ten verses from the beginning of Surah al-Kahf will be protected from his trial, (4) while some narrations