“And that is correct.” Al-Dhahabī likewise cited it in mursal form in Jaʿfar’s biography in his Siyar (1/213). But he later cited the addition mentioned above, saying (1/216): “It has been narrated through several routes that, when Jaʿfar arrived, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘I do not know whether I am happier at Jaʿfar’s arrival or at the conquest of Khaybar.’” Thus, he indicated that the hadith has more than one route. Yet the annotator did not notice this strong indication, saying: “It was previously referenced on page (213), note (1).”

When you return to the note in question, you find nothing there but a reference to Ibn Saʿd and al-Ḥākim. He quoted al-Ḥākim’s preceding statement and al-Dhahabī’s comment on it—that the mursal version is correct.

I have found two other routes for the hadith, perhaps the two to which al-Dhahabī—the consummate hadith master—was alluding. The first is from ʿAwn ibn Abī Juḥayfah, from his father, who said: “When Jaʿfar returned from the land of Abyssinia to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, kissed him between the eyes, then said: ‘I do not know whether I am happier at Jaʿfar’s arrival or at the conquest of Khaybar.’”

Al-Ṭabarānī recorded it in al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr (22/100/244): Abū ʿAqīl Anas ibn Salm al-Khawlānī and Aḥmad ibn Khālid ibn Masraḥ narrated to us—they said: al-Walīd ibn ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Masraḥ al-Ḥarrānī narrated to us; Mukhallad ibn Yazīd narrated to us from ʿAwn ibn Abī Juḥayfah with it. I say: This is a good chain of transmission. Mukhallad and ʿAwn are trustworthy, and both are among the narrators used by al-Bukhārī and Muslim. Al-Walīd ibn