The first is that they mentioned in Humayd’s biographical entry that everything he narrates from Anas with an ambiguous “from” formula, he in fact took from Thabit, from Anas. Thabit—namely al-Bunani—is trustworthy and is likewise relied upon in both Sahih collections.

The second is that impugning it on account of concealment in transmission—were that conceded here—would render the hadith weak, not good.

Al-Tirmidhi (1/153) also recorded it through another chain from Ibn Abi Adi, with similar wording, and said: “It is a good, authentic, singular hadith from Anas ibn Malik.”

1411 — “When you meet the polytheists—in one narration, ‘the People of the Book’—do not initiate the greeting of peace to them; and when you meet them on a road, force them to its narrowest part.”

Muslim (7/5), Abu Dawud (2/642), Ahmad (2/346 and 459), and Ibn al-Sunni in The Deeds of the Day and Night (337) recorded it through several chains from Shu‘bah, from Suhayl ibn Abi Salih, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said it. The wording is Ibn al-Sunni’s. Muslim did not cite its wording, but referred instead to the wording of al-Darawardi’s preceding narration, which will be mentioned below.

Abu Dawud’s wording is that Suhayl said: “I travelled with my father to Syria, and as we passed by monasteries occupied by Christians, we greeted them. My father then said: ‘Do not initiate the greeting of peace to them, for Abu Hurayrah related to us from the Messenger of Allah: Do not initiate the greeting of peace to them …’” Ahmad also recorded this version, and he has the other version: “the People of the Book.”

Sufyan al-Thawri also narrated it from Suhayl ibn Abi Salih with the wording, “the polytheists.” It was recorded by al-Bukhari in Al-Adab al-Mufrad (1111), as well as by Muslim, Ahmad (2/444 and 525), and Ibn al-Sunni. In one wording recorded by Ahmad, it says: “the Jews.”

Zuhayr also narrated it: “Suhayl ibn Abi Salih narrated to us,” with the wording: “When you meet them …” Zuhayr said: “I asked Suhayl, ‘The Jews and the Christians?’ He replied, ‘The polytheists.’”