- “Afflictions come more swiftly upon one who loves me than a torrent reaches its end.”
Ibn Hibban narrated it in his Sahih, under type (71), on folio (103/1) of its manuscript portion, through Abu Yaʿla: al-Qawariri narrated to us; Abu Maʿshar al-Barraʾ informed us; Shaddad ibn Saʿid narrated from Abu al-Waziʿ Jabir ibn ʿAmr, who said: I heard ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Mughafal say: A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, I love you.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him—and he then quoted it. It is also found in Mawarid al-Zamʾan, no. (2505).
I say: This is a good chain of transmission. Its narrators are those of Muslim. There is some criticism concerning Jabir ibn ʿAmr and Shaddad ibn Saʿid, but it does not lower either of their hadiths beneath the rank of good, if Allah Most High wills.
- “Blessing is in the middle of the dish, so eat from its sides and do not eat from its middle.”
Al-Sari ibn Yahya narrated it in Hadith al-Thawri (211/2), from him, from ʿAtaʾ ibn al-Saʾib, from Saʿid ibn Jubayr, from Ibn ʿAbbas, attributed to the Prophet ﷺ.
I say: Its chain of transmission is authentic, and all its narrators are trustworthy. Al-Thawri heard from Ibn al-Saʾib before his memory became impaired. Al-Humaydi also narrated it in his Musnad (89/1): Sufyan narrated to us, who said: ʿAtaʾ narrated to us.
I say: This Sufyan is Ibn ʿUyaynah. Al-Hakim also narrated it (4/116) through al-Humaydi from him. Al-Tahawi narrated it in al-Mushkil (1/55) through another route from Sufyan al-Thawri, to the same effect. Al-Hakim said: “Its chain of transmission is authentic.” Al-Dhahabi concurred with him. Ibn ʿUyaynah heard from ʿAtaʾ only after his memory had become impaired; therefore, reliance is placed upon al-Thawri’s narration from him.