It was narrated by Abu Ya‘la (3/1203), from whom Abu al-Shaykh narrated it in The Prophet’s Character (p. 213), and from the latter Abu Nu‘aym narrated it in The Evidences (216). Al-Haythami graded its chain of transmission good, as noted above under hadith 544. In my view, however, this is questionable, for Abu Ma‘shar—whose name was Nujayh ibn ‘Ab al-Rahman al-Sindi—was described by al-Hafiz as: “Weak; he grew old and became confused.”

The final part of her hadith is also narrated from her through another route, and has corroborating reports whose discussion and documentation have preceded under hadith 544. As for the description of the angel and his waist, I have found no corroborating report by which it may be strengthened. It is therefore rejected, and for that reason I included it in The Weak Collection (2045).

2485 — “Whenever he shook hands with a man, he would not withdraw his hand until the man was the one who let go of the Messenger of Allah’s hand, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.”

It has been reported through several routes from Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him. The first is through Hilal ibn Abi Hilal al-Qasmali, from him. Al-Khatib narrated it in The Clarifier (2/225, Aleppo photographic edition), through Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ja‘far al-Bukhari, who said: Hilal ibn Abi Hilal al-Qasmali narrated to us … This is its wording. I say: Al-Qasmali is weak, and I do not know the narrator who reported from him.

The second is through Zayd al-‘Ami, from him. It was narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2/80), who deemed it uncommon; Ibn Majah (3716); Ibn Sa‘d in The Classes (1/378); and al-Baghawi in Explanation of the Sunnah (13/245/3680, the Office