and he went on to say: “It is reported that Abd al-Rahman b. Ishaq supported Maʿmar, and that ʿAbd Allah would sometimes narrate from al-Zuhri and then insert another transmitter between himself and al-Zuhri; we do not know whether this belongs to his authentic narrations or not.” I add: This same additional clause is also found in Abu Dawud’s version, in the hadith of Sufyan from al-Zuhri. Abu Dawud cited it through the route of Qutaybah b. Saʿid and Ibn al-Sarrh, both of whom said, “Sufyan related it to us.” I do not know whether it is firmly established or not. In any case, it is a sound addition, because it is supported by several chains. Among them is the report of Abu Saʿid al-Khudri who said: “Our Prophet ﷺ ordered us to recite Fatiha al-Kitab (the Opening chapter of the Book) and whatever else is easy.” Al-Bukhari recorded it in his treatise (3); Abu Dawud (1/130); al-Bayhaqi (2/60); and Ahmad (3/3, 45, 97), all through the isnad of Qatadah, from Abu Nadrah, from him. This chain is sahih, as al-Hafiz stated in al-Talkhis (3/314); and he said in Fath (2/193), “Its isnad is strong.” Al-Nawawi likewise ruled in al-Majmuʿ (3/329) that it is “authentic according to the criteria of al-Bukhari and Muslim.” I remark, however, that it meets only Muslim’s criteria, for Abu Nadrah—whose name is al-Mundhir b. Malik—is cited by al-Bukhari only in suspended form. Abu Hanifah also narrated it in his Musnad (13), and from him Abu Yusuf in al-Athar, no. 6, through another route from Abu Nadrah; Ibn Majah (277) likewise transmitted it. Another chain comes from Abu Hurayrah, who said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed me to announce …”