I say, and with Allah lies all success:

I consider it highly unlikely that this was Ibn Hibban’s doing, given his retention, knowledge, and juristic understanding. Rather, in my preponderant view, it came from his shaykh, Abu Khalifah, whose name was al-Fadl ibn al-Hubab al-Jumahi. For although he was trustworthy and learned—as al-Dhahabi stated in al-Mizan—and was counted among the hadith masters, al-Hafiz mentioned some errors of his in Lisan al-Mizan. I therefore believe that this hadith should be added to them. And Allah knows best.

Moreover, the hadith cited under this heading may be regarded as elucidating and explaining Allah’s saying: “We would never punish until We had sent a messenger”—provided that one notes the Prophet’s words in it: “hears of me”; that is, hears of him as he truly was: a human being, a Messenger, and a Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Thus, whoever hears of him as other than he truly was—namely, as one distinguished by guidance, light, and noble character—because of certain ignorant Muslims, or misguiding propagandists among Christian missionaries and atheists, who portray him to their peoples contrary to the true and well-known account of him, peace and blessings be upon him: such peoples have not heard of him, and the Islamic message has not reached them. Therefore, they are not included in the threat mentioned in the hadith.

This is analogous to his saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “Whoever sees me in a dream…” That is, sees him in his true appearance and with the attributes he had during his lifetime. So whoever actually claims to have seen him as an elderly man whose beard had turned gray has not seen him, because this appearance contradicts what is known of his characteristics. May Allah Most High bless him and his family and grant them peace.

3094. “If one of you sneezes and praises Allah, then say to him, ‘May Allah have mercy on you.’ But if he does not praise Allah, then do not say this to him.”

It was recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah in al-Musannaf (8/683/6025)—and, from him, by al-Bayhaqi in