an error on his part. This made it necessary to examine the matter carefully. He said (3/107):

“Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah both narrated it through Muhammad ibn Ishaq. Abu Umar al-Namari made critical remarks about this hadith.”

I say: It is most likely that the remarks indicated refer only to the discrepancy in its chain of transmission. We have explained which view is preponderant, so this does not harm it.

Moreover, Ibn Majah did not narrate this hadith through Muhammad ibn Ishaq, as was mentioned earlier at the beginning of this investigation; hence this clarification was necessary.

Al-Suyuti also attributed the hadith to Imam Ahmad. Yet, although al-Hakim transmitted it through his route, I have not found it in his Musnad—and that is what is meant when it is attributed to him without qualification.

Al-Manawi mentioned in his commentary on it that al-Hafiz al-Iraqi said in his Amali: “A good hadith.” Al-Daylami said: “It is authentic.” Al-Hafiz likewise said so in al-Fath.

I then found another route for the hadith. Al-Humaydi said in his Musnad (357): Sufyan related to us: Muhammad ibn Ishaq related to us, from Maʿbad ibn Kaʿb, from his uncle or his mother, who said: “Know, O people, that a simple, unostentatious appearance is part of faith.”

Ibn Ishaq practised tadlis and narrated it using an ambiguous “from” formula. Another chain for it through him has already preceded.

342 — “Knowledge is acquired only through learning, and forbearance through cultivating forbearance. Whoever seeks good will be granted it, and whoever guards against evil will be protected from it.”

Al-Khatib transmitted it in his Tarikh (9/127): Ali ibn Ahmad al-Razzaz informed us; ʿAbd al-Samad ibn ʿAli al-Tusti related to us; Ahmad