(1) Its transmitters are reliable, but the chain is broken. Al-Tirmidhi notes in his Sunan 1/130: “Muhammad – meaning al-Bukhari – said that Makhul never heard from Anbasa b. Abi Sufyan.” Ibn Majah also records it in his Sunan (no. 481) through two routes from al-Haytham b. Humayd with the same isnad. Al-Busiri writes in al-Zawaid, fol. 36: “This chain is open to criticism. Makhul al-Dimashqi was a mudallis and has transmitted it only with ʿanʿana; his report must therefore be set aside, all the more so since al-Bukhari, Abu Zurʿa, Hisham b. ʿAmmar, Abu Mus-har and others state that he never heard from Anbasa b. Abi Sufyan, so the isnad is disconnected.” Al-Bayhaqi reproduces it in al-Kubra 1/130 through al-Haytham b. Humayd, and Abu Yaʿla al-Mawsili relates it: “Abu Bakr b. Zanjawayh told us, Abu Mus-har told us, al-Haytham b. Humayd told me…,” citing both chain and text and adding: “Al-ʿAlaʾ reported that Makhul said: ‘Whoever touches it deliberately….’” I say: The hadith is nevertheless sound via another route: Busrah bt. Safwan heard the Messenger of Allah say, “If any of you touches his penis, let him perform wudu.” It is reported by Malik 1/42; al-Shafiʿi, al-Umm 1/15; Ahmad 6/406; Abu Dawud (181); al-Tirmidhi (82); al-Nasaʾi 1/100; and Ibn Majah (479). Al-Tirmidhi grades it “hasan sahih,” and it is authenticated by Ibn Hibban (nos. 212–213) and al-Hakim 1/136, with al-Dhahabi concurring. The obligation implied by “let him perform wudu” has been lifted; what remains is mere recommendation, as shown by the hadith of Talq b. ʿAli. When the Prophet was asked about a man touching his penis he replied, “It is only a piece of flesh, a part of your body.” This sahih hadith is recorded by Ahmad 4/22–23; Abu Dawud (182); al-Tirmidhi (85); al-Nasaʾi 1/38; and Ibn Majah (483), and was declared authentic by ʿAmr b. ʿAli al-Fallas, Ibn al-Madini, al-Tahawi, Ibn Hibban (no. 207), al-Tabarani and Ibn Hazm.