as Ibn Abi Khaythamah and others have said. Moreover, Sa'id’s narration takes precedence here over Hisham’s, because it contains an additional link in the chain of transmission, and an addition from a trustworthy narrator must be accepted.

Furthermore, Abu Dawud al-Tayalisi said of Sa'id: “He had the best memory of all Qatadah’s students.” Imam Ahmad explicitly stated that Ma'mar’s narration cited by al-Tirmidhi was an error, as recorded in Sunan al-Bayhaqi. Qatadah was from Basra, and Ma'mar ibn Rashid’s reports in Basra contain some weakness, as al-Hafiz mentioned in al-Taqrib. Thus, the only narration that remains worthy of consideration as a counter-report is that of Shu'bah. He was a trustworthy, retentive, precise narrator; therefore, I consider his narration to be established alongside Sa'id’s narration. Otherwise, Sa'id’s narration takes precedence over his for the reason we have mentioned. Allah knows best.

I later found that al-Hakim recorded the hadith in al-Mustadrak (1/187) through both routes, from Shu'bah and from Sa'id. He then said: “Both chains meet the criteria of authenticity,” and al-Dhahabi agreed with him. Some weak narrators have reported it from Qatadah by another route and with different wording; see al-Da'ifah (5042).

1071 - “When he wished to relieve himself, he would not raise his garment until he was close to the ground.”

It was recorded by Abu Dawud (1/3–4), and from him by al-Bayhaqi, through Waki', from al-A'mash, from an unnamed man, from Ibn Umar, who attributed it to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. This is a weak chain of transmission because the man is unknown. Abu Dawud also recorded it—as did al-Tirmidhi (1/21) and al-Darimi (1/171)—through two routes from Abd al-Salam ibn Harb al-Mula'i, from al-A'mash, from Anas ibn Malik, with the same wording. Al-Bayhaqi likewise recorded it. Abu Dawud said immediately afterward: “It is weak.”

Al-Tirmidhi explicitly identified its defect, saying: “Both reports are confused. It is said that al-A'mash did not hear from Anas, nor from any of the Prophet’s Companions, peace and blessings be upon him. He did see Anas ibn Malik and said, ‘I saw him praying,’ and he related from him an account concerning the prayer.”

Al-Mundhiri said: “Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani mentioned that al-A'mash saw Anas ibn Malik and Ibn Abi Awfa and heard from them both. However, the view stated by al-Tirmidhi is the well-known one.”