Note

In al-Fatḥ al-Kabīr, the hadith is attributed to Muslim, on the authority of Kaʿb ibn Malik, with the wording of the heading; but I have not found it there. Allah knows best.

Two further corroborating reports for this hadith will follow, from the hadiths of Hamzah ibn ʿAmr al-Aslami and Abu Hurayrah, under no. (1565).

488 — “Pardon him—that is, the servant—seventy times every day.”

Abu Dawud (5164) recorded it through Ibn Wahb, who said: Abu Hani al-Khawlani informed me, from al-ʿAbbas ibn Julayd al-Hujari, who said: I heard ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr say:

“A man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, how many times should we pardon the servant?’ He remained silent. Then the man repeated his question, and he remained silent. When it was the third time, he said”—and then he cited it.

Al-Tirmidhi also recorded it (1/353–354) through this route, but did not give its wording; rather, he referred to the wording of Rushdayn ibn Saʿd, from Abu Hani al-Khawlani, through the same chain, with similar wording. He said: “A good, singular hadith.”

I say: Its chain of transmission is authentic. Abu Hani’s name was Humayd ibn Hani, and he was trustworthy; al-ʿAbbas ibn Julayd al-Hujari was likewise. Thus, the chain is authentic. Abu Hatim’s statement, “I do not know that ʿAbbas ibn Julayd heard from ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr,” is refuted by his explicit statement in this chain that he heard from him.

Ibn Lahiʿah also corroborated him, from Humayd ibn Hani, through the same chain. Ahmad recorded it (2/111).

Saʿid ibn Abi Ayyub also corroborated him: Abu Hani narrated to us, from ʿAbbas al-Hujari, from ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab:

“A man came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have a servant who mistreats and wrongs me ...’”