I then continued my investigation and found another route for it, through the narration of Mubārak ibn Saʿīd—the brother of Sufyān ibn Saʿīd—who said: Saʿīd ibn Masrūq related to us from Ayyūb ibn Kurayz, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Ghanam, from Muʿādh ibn Jabal ... in a lengthy version of the hadith that includes this portion.

Al-Ṭabarānī recorded it (20/73–74) through two routes from him.

This chain consists of narrators who are trustworthy and included among the narrators of al-Tahdhīb, except for this Ayyūb ibn Kurayz, who is known only through this narration. Nevertheless, Ibn Ḥibbān listed him in al-Thiqāt (6/54)! He is therefore of unknown status, but his hadith is strengthened by the corroborating narration of Shahr ibn Ḥawshab from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Ghanam, from Muʿādh. Aḥmad recorded it (5/235, 236, and 245), both in a lengthy and an abbreviated version. *

The prescribed practice of greeting one who is reading

3285 — “Learn the Book of Allah, make it your own, and recite it melodiously. For by Him in Whose Hand Muhammad’s soul is, it escapes from its bonds more readily than pregnant she-camels escape from their hobbles.”

Aḥmad recorded it (4/150), as did al-Shajarī in al-Amālī (1/73), through the route of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Yazīd, who said: Qubāth ibn Razīn al-Lakhmī related to us, saying: I heard ʿUlayy ibn Rabāḥ al-Lakhmī say: I heard ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir al-Juhanī say:

“We were sitting in the mosque reading the Quran when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered and greeted us. We returned his greeting, and then he said: ...” He then cited it.

Al-Ṭabarānī also recorded it in al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr (17/290/800) through this route, but did not give its wording.

Aḥmad then recorded it (4/153), as did al-Ṭabarānī (800 and 802), through other routes from Qubāth, with the same wording.