ibn Suhayb, from Ja‘far ibn ‘Abd Allah, who said: “Al-Hakam—al-Nu‘man said: I believe he was al-Ghifari—saw me, when I was a boy, eating from here and there. He said: ‘My son, do not eat like this. This is how Satan eats. When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, placed his hand in the bowl or vessel, his fingers would not extend beyond where his palm was placed.’”

Al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir (1/155/1). Al-Haythami said in al-Majma‘ (5/27): “Al-Tabarani narrated it, and it includes al-Nu‘man ibn Shibl, who is weak.”

I say: Rather, his condition is worse than that. Musa ibn Harun said: “He was accused,” and al-Dhahabi cited a fabricated hadith of his. As for ‘Abd al-Hakim ibn Suhayb, Ibn Abi Hatim said (3/1/35): “He heard from Ja‘far ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Abi al-Hakam, and ‘Abd Allah ibn Ja‘far al-Makhzumi narrated from him.” He mentioned neither criticism nor accreditation concerning him. Apparently, he is the same ‘Abd al-Hakam found in the earlier narration of Abu Raja’, but the copyist or printer altered it, omitting the letter ya’. However, I have not identified this Abu Raja’.

Nevertheless, the heart inclines toward strengthening the hadith through the combined force of the two chains. Khalid ibn Isma‘il also narrated it from Ayyub ibn Salamah, who said: Hisham ibn ‘Urwah narrated to us, through his previously mentioned chain from ‘A’ishah, something similar to it, adding: “When dates were brought, his hand would move about.” Al-Bazzar narrated it (p. 160). But this Khalid was a liar, so his corroboration is of no value.