“the mawlā (master) is Allah.” Thus, if it is permissible to apply the term sayyid (master) to a slave’s master, then it is even more fitting that the term mawlā (master) be applied to him, especially since it may also be applied to one of lower status, as was mentioned earlier in the words of al-Ḥāfiẓ. This sound consideration, together with the three preceding factors, leads us to give preference to the narration of the three trustworthy narrators over that of the two trustworthy narrators who alone transmitted this addition. A preference must therefore be made. There can be no doubt that the convergence of these four factors leaves no room for the hesitation mentioned above. Rather, we may decisively conclude that the addition uniquely transmitted by the two trustworthy narrators is anomalous and therefore cannot be established. And Allah knows best.

Among the wordings of the hadith in some of the chains cited above is: “Let none of you say, ‘My male slave’ or ‘my female slave.’ All of you are slaves of Allah, and all your women are female slaves of Allah. Rather, let him say, ‘My young man,’ ‘my young woman,’ ‘my boy,’ or ‘my girl.’” It was recorded by Muslim, al-Bukhārī in al-Adab al-Mufrad, and Aḥmad (2/462, 484).

Another wording is: “Let none of you say, ‘My male slave’ or ‘my female slave’; nor should the slave say, ‘My lord’ or ‘my lady.’ Rather, the owner should say, ‘My boy’ or ‘my girl,’ and the slave should say, ‘My master’ or ‘my lady,’ for you are owned servants, and the Lord is Allah, exalted is He.” It was recorded in al-Adab al-Mufrad, by Abū Dāwūd (4975), and by Aḥmad (2/423), with an authentic chain meeting Muslim’s conditions.

804 — “He would visit the House every night of the nights of Minā.”

Al-Ṭaḥāwī recorded it in Mushkil al-Āthār (1/491), al-Ṭabarānī in al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr (3/181/1), and al-Bayhaqī in al-Sunan al-Kubrā (5/146), through several chains from Ibrāhīm ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿArʿarah, who said: Muʿādh ibn Hishām handed us a book—which I did not hear directly—and said: “I heard it from my father, but did not read it to him.” It contained: from Qatādah, from Abū Ḥassān, from Ibn ʿAbbās, attributed to the Prophet, with this wording.

This is how it appears in their versions—with the addition found in al-Ṭaḥāwī’s version—except for al-Ṭabarānī, who said: “Al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī al-Maʿmarī narrated to us: informed us …”