I once heard Ibn Rāhwayh narrate, on a certain day, many hadiths about the tarjiʿ (1) in the adhān. He then cited the hadith of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Zayd al-Anṣārī (2) and said:

“O people, I have just related to you these hadiths on the tarjiʿ, and apart from the tarjiʿ there is only a single report—the hadith of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Zayd.

Now Muḥammad ibn Aslam has instructed the people to practice the tarjiʿ, yet you called him an innovator, saying that most of the inhabitants of his district are rabble.

Beware of the rabble, for they are the killers of the prophets.”

When night came I went in to see him and said, “Abū Yaʿqūb, you have narrated these hadiths on the tarjiʿ, so why do you not order your own mu’adhin to perform it?” (3)

He replied, “O simpleton, did you not hear what I said about the rabble? I only fear the rabble.

As for the case of Muḥammad ibn Aslam, it is heaven-sent (4); whenever he embarks upon something, it is brought to completion. We, however, are slaves to our stomachs (5)—nothing we start ever comes to fruition. In the presence of Muḥammad ibn Aslam we are like thieves.” (6)

Muḥammad said: Aḥmad ibn Naṣr wrote to me, “Write and inform me of the condition of Muḥammad ibn Aslam, for he is one of the pillars of Islam.” (7)