who had with them no more than one or two men!

The one being called must not be discouraged by the small number responding to the caller, taking this as a reason to doubt the call to truth and abandon faith in it—let alone taking it as proof that the call is false, on the grounds that no one, or only a minority, has followed it. “If his call were true,” they say, “the multitudes would have followed it!” Yet Allah says:

“And most people, even though you are eager, will not be believers.”

398 — “Seek women’s consent concerning their marriages.” It was asked, “But a virgin is too shy to speak?” He replied, “Her silence is her consent.”

Al-Nasa’i (2/78) and Ahmad (6/45, 203) narrated it from Ibn Jurayj, who said: I heard Ibn Abi Mulaykah narrate from Dhakwan Abu Amr, the freedman of Aishah, from Aishah, who attributed it to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

This is an authentic chain of transmission meeting the conditions of both al-Bukhari and Muslim. Al-Bukhari (8/57), Muslim (4/141), and Ahmad as well (6/165) also narrated it through this route, with the same meaning.

In one version: “The virgin’s permission is to be sought.”

399 — “He forbade drinking from the mouth of a waterskin.”

Ahmad (2/230, 487) narrated it: Isma‘il narrated to us; Ayyub informed us from Ikrimah, from Abu Hurayrah, who attributed it to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

Ayyub said: I was informed that a man drank from the mouth of a waterskin, and a snake emerged.

This is an authentic chain of transmission meeting al-Bukhari’s conditions. Al-Hakim also narrated it (4/140) through this route and said: “Authentic according to the conditions of al-Bukhari.”