And Ibn Hibbān narrated from Salama ibn Kuhayl, from Ibrāhīm, who said: ‘Abd Allāh said:
“I wish that whoever recites behind the imam had his mouth filled with straw.”
He said: This report has a disconnected chain and cannot be used as evidence. Ibn ‘Awn narrated a differing version from Ibrāhīm, from al-Aswad, with the wording “heated stones.” Such words do not befit people of knowledge, for several reasons.
First, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Do not curse one another by invoking Allah’s curse or the Fire, and do not punish with Allah’s punishment.”
Second, no one should wish to fill the mouths of the Prophet’s Companions—‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb, Ubayy ibn Ka‘b, Hudhayfa and the others we have mentioned—with heated stones, straw or dust.
Third, once a report from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions is established, the statement of al-Aswad or anyone like him carries no authority against it. Ibn ‘Abbās and Mujāhid said:
“After the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, everyone’s statements may be accepted or rejected.”
Hammād ibn Salama said:
“I wish that whoever recites behind the imam had his mouth filled with sugar.”
Al-Bukhārī said: ‘Umar ibn Muhammad narrated from Mūsā ibn Sa‘d, from Zayd ibn Thābit, who said:
“Whoever recites behind the imam, his prayer is invalid.”
It is not known whether, in this