38 – Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥasan narrated to us, from Bishr ibn al-Sarī, from Hammām ibn Yaḥyā, from Isḥāq ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Ṭalḥah:

A man used to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), greet him, and the Prophet would ask, “How are you this morning?” The man would reply, “I praise Allah before you,” or, “To you I declare my praise of Allah,” whereupon the Prophet would pray for him.

One day the man came and the Prophet said, “How are you, so-and-so?” He answered, “I am well—if I am thankful.” At that the Prophet remained silent. The man said, “Messenger of Allah, you used to ask me and then supplicate for me, yet today you asked me and did not supplicate.” He replied, “I used to ask you and you would give thanks to Allah; today I asked you and you wavered in expressing gratitude.”