is a mistake and an error. The actual hadith reads: ‘The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would give a salutation to his right and to his left’ (1).” He then cited a report through Ibn al-Mubārak (2), from Mus‘ab ibn Thābit, from Ismā‘īl ibn Muhammad ibn Sa‘d, from ‘Āmir ibn Sa‘d, from his father, who said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) give a salutation to his right and to his left (3); it is as though I am looking at the side of his cheek.” Al-Zuhrī said: “We have not heard this reported from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).” Ismā‘īl ibn Muhammad asked him: “Have you heard every hadith of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)?” He replied: “No.” He asked: “Then half of them?” He replied: “No.” He said: “Then count this among the half you have not heard!” (4).

He said: As for ‘Ā’ishah’s hadith stating that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would give a single salutation, only Zuhayr ibn Muhammad traced it back to the Prophet, narrating it from Hishām ibn ‘Urwah, from his father, from ‘Ā’ishah. ‘Amr ibn Abī Salamah and others narrated it from him. Zuhayr ibn Muhammad is considered weak by all,