It was recorded by al-Nasaʾi (1:187), al-Tirmidhi (2:373, Bulaq ed.), and al-Hakim (1:536) through the isnad: Muhammad ibn ʿAjlan → al-Qaʿqaʿ ibn Hakim → Abu Salih → [Abu Hurayrah]. Al-Tirmidhi classified it as “hasan sahih gharib,” and al-Hakim likewise judged it sahih, as will be shown. In truth it is only hasan, because the authorities differ over Ibn ʿAjlan. Nor was he the sole transmitter. Al-Nasaʾi and al-Hakim also cited it through Abu Muʿawiyah, and Ibn Abi Shaybah (2:123 §2 = 2:232 §8440) through Wakiʿ, both from al-Aʿmash → Abu Salih → Saʿd, who said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed by me while I was supplicating with two fingers and said, ‘Ahhid, ahhid (use only one),’ then pointed with the forefinger.” Al-Hakim remarked, “Both chains are sahih. As for the report of Abu Muʿawiyah, it is sahih on the conditions of al-Bukhari and Muslim, provided that Abu Salih al-Samman actually heard from Saʿd.” Al-Dhahabi added, “Sahih by both isnads.” His explicit authentication of Abu Muʿawiyah’s version is sound, for the scholars do affirm that Abu Salih narrated from Saʿd. The hadith is also found in Abu Yaʿla and in Ibn Abi Shaybah (2:231 §8426), the latter explicitly stating that the man concerned was Saʿd, through the route of Abu Hurayrah. (*) Shaykh — in his edition of al-Sifah appended to the printed Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah (12:40 §1) — likewise traced it to Ibn Abi Shaybah (6:88 §29673) with the chain: Hafs ibn Ghiyath → al-Aʿmash → Abu Salih → [Saʿd], omitting the second addition yet naming the man as Saʿd.