Elsewhere (10/58–59), he said:

“He, glorified is He, made clear that He hesitates, because hesitation is the conflict of two wills. He loves what His servant loves and dislikes what he dislikes. The servant dislikes death, so Allah dislikes it, as He said: ‘I dislike causing him distress.’ Yet He, glorified is He, has decreed death, and thus wills that he die. He called this hesitation, then made clear that it must inevitably occur.”

1641 — “Allah has not sent any prophet or caliph without his having two entourages: an entourage that enjoins what is right and forbids him from what is wrong, and an entourage that spares no effort to corrupt him. Whoever is shielded from an evil entourage has indeed been protected.”

It was recorded by al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (256); al-Tirmidhi in al-Sunan (2/58–59) and al-Shama’il al-Muhammadiyyah (no. 134); al-Tahawi in Mushkil al-Athar (1/195–196); and al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak (4/131)—and, on his authority, al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman (2/17/2)—through several routes from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Umayr, from Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman, from Abu Hurayrah, who said:

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Abu al-Haytham, “Do you have a servant?” He replied, “No.” He said, “When captives come to us, come to us.” Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was brought two captives, with no third among them. Abu al-Haytham came to him, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Choose one of them.” He said, “Messenger of Allah, choose for me.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, “The person consulted is entrusted. Take this one, for I saw him praying; and treat him well.”

His wife said, “You will not fulfill what the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said concerning him unless you set him free.” He said, “Then he is free.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, then said…” and he mentioned the hadith.

The wording is that of al-Bukhari, whereas the versions of al-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim are more complete. Al-Hakim said, “Authentic according to the criteria of the two Shaykhs,” and al-Dhahabi concurred with him. Al-Tirmidhi said, “A good, authentic, singular hadith.”

I say: As for his statement, “The person consulted is entrusted,”