“Sound according to Muslim’s criteria.” Al-Dhahabi endorsed this judgment, but both of them were mistaken. The isnad is only hasan, for this al-Harith is not one of Muslim’s narrators—in fact, he is not mentioned at all in any of the Six Books. Al-Dhahabi gives his entry in al-Mizan, saying: “Reliable, but Ibn ʿAdi, in Sharik’s biography, cites a hadith and comments: ‘The flaw may come from this al-Khazin.’ ” Ibn Hajar remarks in al-Lisan: “Ibn Hibban relied on this al-Harith in his Sahih, listed him among the thiqat, and said: ‘His hadith is upright.’ ” Hence it is probably through his route that Ibn Hibban included the report in his Sahih, for Ibn Hajar notes in al-Talkhis (3/475): “It was narrated by Ibn Khuzaima, Ibn Hibban, and al-Hakim.” (1) It is also reported from al-Bara who said: “When the Prophet bowed he kept his back straight, and when he prostrated he directed his fingers toward the qibla, spreading them apart.” Al-Bayhaqi recorded it through Zakariya ibn Abi Zayda → Abu Ishaq → al-Bara; the chain is sahih, as mentioned earlier under Ruku (p. 639). Al-Bayhaqi then transmitted it via Makhlad ibn Malik ibn Jabir → Muhammad ibn Salamah → al-Fazari → Abu Ishaq with the wording: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah prostrated and placed his hands on the ground, he would face his palms and fingers toward the qibla.” All the narrators in this chain are found in the Six Books except for this Muhammad ibn Salamah, who is apparently the one listed in al-Mizan and al-Lisan: “Muhammad ibn Salamah al-Shami, who narrates from Abu Ishaq al-Sabiʿi and others; Ibn Hibban abandoned him and said:”