“…When he had finished, he stood up, and his Companions stood up and went out ahead of him. He would say: ‘Leave the space behind me for the angels….’” Ahmad recorded it (3/397–398), as did al-Darimi (1/23–25).

I say: This chain is authentic. It is a strong corroborating report for the two preceding narrations, indicating the authenticity of each of them and reconciling them. It also shows that their walking ahead of him and leaving the space behind him, peace and blessings be upon him, was only at his command. However, this is problematic in light of Shuʿbah’s narration from al-Aswad ibn Qays, through the same chain, traced back to the Prophet, with the wording: “Do not walk ahead of me or behind me, for this is the place of the angels.” Al-Hakim recorded it (4/281) and said: “Authentic according to the criteria of al-Bukhari and Muslim.” That is what he said! In al-Dhahabi’s Talkhis, it states: “Its chain is authentic,” and that is closer to the truth, for this Nubayh was not among the narrators of al-Bukhari and Muslim. A group of scholars deemed him trustworthy, and all those below him in the chain are reliable.

Thus, he added a prohibition against walking ahead of him as well, whereas they had been walking ahead of him, as mentioned above. Either it may be said that the prohibition came later, or that this is an anomalous addition. The latter is perhaps closer to the truth. And Allah knows best.

1558 — “Remove harm from the road, for it is a charity for you.”

Ibn Saʿd (4/299), al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (228), Ibn Nasr in al-Salah (222/1 and 224/1), and Ahmad (4/422 and 423) recorded it from Abu al-Waziʿ—who was Jabir ibn ʿAmr—from Abu Barzah al-Aslami, who said: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, instruct me in a deed that I may do.” He then mentioned it.