It is also cited by Aḥmad with a ḥasan chain—and it will likely appear later under the chapter “The Sutra.” Al-Haythamī remarks: “All of its transmitters are trustworthy.”

Al-Bukhārī headed the report under several chapter-titles, among them: “Chapter: A captive or debtor may be tied up in the mosque.” Al-ʿAynī, his commentator, writes: “This ḥadith proves the permissibility of fastening a prisoner inside the mosque, and for that reason al-Bukhārī titled the chapter accordingly. On the same basis al-Mahlib said: The narration allows one to tie up a person who might otherwise escape because of a right or a debt, securing him in the mosque or elsewhere.”

16 – Judicial Rulings and Mutual Imprecation (liʿān). The ḥadith of Sahl ibn Saʿd—may Allah be pleased with him—states: “A man from the Anṣār came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, ‘Messenger of Allah, suppose a man finds another man with his wife—should he kill him, and what is he to do?’ Thereupon Allah revealed concerning his case what He mentioned in the Quran about the two who mutually imprecate. The Prophet said, ‘Allah has decreed concerning you and your wife.’ The two of them then carried out the mutual imprecation in the mosque while I was present …” (complete ḥadith)

Al-Bukhārī records the narration—with this exact wording—and Muslim records it through the route of Ibn Jurayj, who said, “Ibn Shihāb informed me about the case of liʿān and the Sunnah regarding it, on the authority of the ḥadith of Sahl ibn Saʿd of Banū Sāʿidah, that a man …” and so forth.

Al-Bukhārī entitled it: “Chapter: Performing Mutual Imprecation in the Mosque.”