ibn Salamah had several chains of transmission from Anas. Ruh narrated it from him through Thabit and Humayd, and Mu’ammal—despite his weakness—corroborated him, narrating it from him through Humayd. Abu Salamah also narrated it, saying: “Hammad narrated to us from Thabit, Humayd, and Salih al-Mu‘allim, from al-Hasan, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,” as recorded in al-‘Ilal.

There is no objection to such a combination, for there are many similar instances among narrators, particularly in the case of Hammad ibn Salamah because of the breadth of his memory. And Allah knows best. I have also found another chain from Anas: Ibn Abi Shaybah said in al-Musannaf (12/17/2): “Abu Mu‘awiyah narrated to us from al-A‘mash, from Yazid al-Raqashi, from him, attributing it to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with the same wording.”

I say: The narrators in this chain are all trustworthy narrators of the two Shaykhs, except al-Raqashi, who is weak despite his asceticism. Nevertheless, his narration is unobjectionable, Allah willing, when used as corroboration. In sum, the hadith is authentic through the first chain, from the narration of Rabi‘ah, while the other chains further reinforce its strength.

1537 — “Allah is the Physician. Rather, you are a man who treats gently; her physician is the One who created her.”

It was recorded by Abu Dawud (2/195, al-Taziyah edition), Ahmad (2/226–227, 227, and 4/163), and Ibn Mandah in al-Ma‘rifah (folio 16/1), through ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Abjar, from Iyad ibn Laqit, from Abu Rimthah, who said: “I set out with my father toward the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. ... My father said: ‘Show me what is on your back, for I am a physician.’ He said ...” Then he cited it.

I say: This is an authentic chain meeting Muslim’s criteria. Abjar was ‘Abd al-Malik’s grandfather, for the latter was the son of Sa‘id ibn Hayyan ibn Abjar; and Abjar was trustworthy and devout.