did mention it, namely the remaining nine. Just as it is impermissible to set their reports against those of these two, so too it is impermissible to set Za’idah’s report against theirs. This is because he, like the nine, possesses additional knowledge; and the addition reported by a trustworthy narrator is accepted, as is plainly well known among the scholars.

Once this is clear, let us examine the reports and wordings of the remaining nine. We shall find among them those who agreed with Za’idah’s report concerning movement in meaning, even if their wording differs. I do not know whether his failure to cite them was deliberate or due to ignorance—both are equally bitter! I shall therefore present their names, along with their source references as given in his treatise, and follow them with the relevant wording:

The first: “4—Abu al-Ahwas Sallam ibn Sulaym, in al-Tayalisi (1020) and al-Tabarani (22/80).”

I say: The wording in both of the cited works is: “And he began supplicating.” Al-Tayalisi adds: “Like this”—meaning, with his index finger—“pointing with it.”

The second: “8—Zuhayr ibn Mu‘awiyah, in Ahmad (4/318) and al-Tabarani (22/84).”

I say: Their wording is: “Then I saw him doing this,” and Zuhayr raised his index finger.

The third: “11—Bishr ibn al-Mufaddal, in al-Nasa’i (3/35–36).”

I say: His wording is: “And I saw him doing this”; Bishr pointed with the index finger of his right hand and formed a circle with his thumb and middle finger.

This report of Bishr was also narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah in his Sahih (1/353/713), alongside the report of ‘Abd Allah ibn Idris, which reads: “Then he formed a circle and began pointing with his index finger while supplicating.”