The hadith of Abu Dharr has also been narrated through another route from him, with similar wording but at greater length. It contains weakness, a break in the chain, and objectionable material. Al-Bazzār also recorded it (2271); see my comments on it in Ḍaʿīf Zawāʾid al-Bazzār.

Perhaps some may ask: Are the supporting reports mentioned broader in scope than the hadith under discussion? I say: There is no problem with that, for a broader report may serve as corroboration for a narrower one, though not vice versa, as is well known to the scholars—especially since the route from Abu Dharr mentioned above contains details that confirm this and show that the weighing occurred more than once. It states:

“Two angels came to me … One of them said: ‘Weigh him against a man.’ I was weighed against a man and outweighed him …” The hadith continues: “Then he said: ‘Weigh him against a thousand.’ I was weighed against a thousand and outweighed them. One of them then said to the other: ‘Were you to weigh him against his entire community, he would outweigh it …’” The hadith continues. *

Among his miracles, peace and blessings be upon him

3315—“Would you like me to show you a sign? There was a date-palm and a tree beside him, so the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, summoned a palm branch from it. It came toward him, lowering itself in prostration and raising its head, until it reached him and stood before him. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to it: ‘Return to your place,’ and it returned to its place.”

Abū Isḥāq al-Ḥarbī recorded it in Gharīb al-Ḥadīth (5/84/1), as did Abū Yaʿlā in his Musnad (4/236–237), Ibn Ḥibbān (2111—Mawārid), al-Ṭabarānī in al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr (21/100/12595)—the wording is his—Abū Nuʿaym in al-Dalāʾil (335), and likewise al-Bayhaqī (6/16–17), through various routes from ʿAbd al-Wāḥid ibn Ziyād: al-Aʿmash narrated to us, from Sālim ibn Abī al-Jaʿd, from Ibn ʿAbbās, who said: