Ahmad recorded it (2/162 and 199) through a chain rendered strong by what precedes and follows it. The other is from the hadith of Usamah ibn Zayd, with the same wording. Ahmad also recorded it (5/202) through a chain that al-Hafiz deemed acceptable, and Ibn Hibban graded it authentic (1974). In the Musnad, it has only one route, contrary to the view of one who was mistaken. It has a third supporting report from the hadith of Ibn Mas‘ud, with the wording: “…the obscene, foul-mouthed person.” Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir (3/78/1). Its chain contains Siwar ibn Mus‘ab, who is weak.

877 — “The righteous slave has two rewards.”

Al-Bukhari recorded it (5/132), as did al-Adab al-Mufrad (32) (5/94), Muslim (5/94), and Ahmad (2/330), through Yunus, from al-Zuhri, from Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib, from Abu Hurayrah as a Prophetic report, with this wording. He added: “By Him in whose hand is Abu Hurayrah’s soul, were it not for striving in the way of Allah, Hajj, and dutifulness to my mother, I would have loved to die as a slave.”

However, the aforementioned addition is interpolated into the hadith in the two Sahihs, for they relate it with the wording: “By Him in whose hand is my soul …” The correct view is that it is a statement of Abu Hurayrah, as stated in the first narration, namely that of Ahmad and al-Adab al-Mufrad. The meaning also testifies to this, for, as is well known, the Prophet’s mother died while he was still young. This shows that giving preference to what is found in the two Sahihs over what is found elsewhere is not absolute. Reflect on this.