of the road—a traveler whose means have been exhausted on my journey. Today, I have no means of continuing except through Allah and then through you. I ask you, by the One who restored your sight, for a sheep with which I may continue my journey.” He replied, “I was blind, and Allah restored my sight to me. Take whatever you wish and leave whatever you wish. By Allah, I shall not begrudge you anything you take for Allah’s sake today.” He said, “Keep your wealth. You were only put to the test. Allah is pleased with you and angry with your two companions.”

Muslim (8/213–214), Ibn Hibban (314), and al-Bayhaqi (7/219) all narrated it through Shayban ibn Farrukh: Hammam narrated to us; Ishaq ibn Abd Allah ibn Abi Talhah narrated to us; Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Amrah told me that Abu Hurayrah related to him that he heard the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, say: ... and he then related it.

Amr ibn Asim also corroborated him, reporting it from Hammam.

Al-Bukhari cited it in suspended form, though he mentioned only its opening portion.

He also connected it under no. 3464, saying: Muhammad ibn Ishaq narrated to us; Amr ibn Asim narrated to us from Hammam with the same report. However, he did not give its wording; rather, he shifted to another chain, saying immediately afterward: “Muhammad told me; Abd Allah ibn Raja informed us; Hammam ...” He then cited it in full, except that its text reads: “It occurred to Allah, Most High, to test them,” in place of the wording in the first narration: “Allah wished to test them.”

There is no doubt in my view that the former wording is preferable to the latter for two reasons:

First: two trustworthy narrators—Shayban and Amr ibn Asim—agree upon it.