I reply: This rejoinder is of no weight for two reasons: 1. Al-Bukhari did not cite him as an independent proof; he only reported his narration alongside another. 2. Al-Bukhari himself is among those who criticized him—a point Abu Hatim objected to, as noted above. Ibn Hajar’s Taqrib states: “He is reliable but prone to mistakes,” so the most his reports can reach is the rank of hasan (fair). Yet he is followed up by Abbad ibn Maysarah, whose version is recorded by al-Tahawi. The status of Ibn Maysarah is close to that of Ibn Rashid. Ahmad said, “Abbad ibn Rashid’s hadith is firmer than that of Abbad ibn Maysarah.” Ibn Maʿin remarked, “Abbad ibn Maysarah, Abbad ibn Rashid, Abbad ibn Kathir, and Abbad ibn Mansur—all of them have narrations that are not strong, though they may be written down.” Al-Taqrib characterizes him as “weak in hadith.” With this corroboration, however, the hadith may well be judged sahih; Allah knows best. (1) That is, “we sympathize and feel compassion.” (2) The wording is from the hadith of al-Bara ibn Azib. Muslim (2/53), Abu Awana (2/183), al-Bayhaqi (2/113), al-Tayalisi (no. 101), and Ahmad (4/283, 294) transmit it through Ubayd Allah ibn Iyad ibn Laqit, who said: “My father related it to me from him.”