It was recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim; Muslim also recorded it on the authority of Jabir, and al-Bazzar and others on the authority of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri. It has been cited in al-Targhib (1/138), and all of these reports are also found in Ibn Nasr (17/1–18/1).

1615 — “He would tie a stone around his stomach because of hunger.”

Ibn al-A'rabi recorded it in his Mu'jam (3/1) through Zaynab bint Abi Taliq, who said: Hayyan ibn Hayyah informed us, from Abu Hurayrah, that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, … and he mentioned the hadith.

I say: This is a singular chain of transmission; apart from Abu Hurayrah, I do not know either of its two narrators. However, it is supported by the hadith of Sayyar, from Sahl ibn Aslam, from Yazid ibn Abi Mansur, from Ibn Malik, from Abu Talhah, who said: “We complained to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, of hunger, and each of us uncovered his stomach to show a stone; then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, uncovered his stomach to reveal two stones.”

Al-Tirmidhi recorded it in al-Sunan (3/276) and al-Shama'il (2/232), and said: “It is a singular hadith; we know it only through this route.”

I say: It is weak because of Sayyar, who is Sayyar ibn Hatim al-'Anazi. Al-Dhahabi included him in al-Du'afa' and said: “Al-Qawariri said: ‘He was with me in the shop, but he had no understanding.’ It was asked, ‘Do you accuse him?’ He replied, ‘No.’ Another said: ‘Truthful and of sound inner character.’” Al-Hafiz said: “Truthful, but prone to errors.”