44/52. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2534b — Hadith Chain Variation
The Virtues Of the Sahabah, Then Those Who Come After Them, Then Those Who Come After Them
Hadith About Preserving Narrator Uncertainty
Sahih Muslim : 2534b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2534b
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي حَجَّاجُ بْنُ الشَّاعِرِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . مِثْلَهُ غَيْرَ أَنَّ فِي حَدِيثِ شُعْبَةَ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَلاَ أَدْرِي مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةً .
This hadith has been reported on the authority of Abu Huraira through another chain of transmitters (but with this variation) that Abu Huraira said: I do not know whether he (the Holy Prophet) said (these words:" Then next" ) twice or thrice.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2534bIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 303USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 6155
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2534b
This report is about the transmission of the hadith from Abu Huraira through another chain. It says the wording is similar, but with a variation: Abu Huraira said he did not know whether the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said the phrase "then next" twice or three times. The report is valuable because it preserves the narrator's exact caution. It does not add a new teaching about the best generation beyond the earlier wording. Instead, it shows how hadith reports can record uncertainty honestly when a narrator is unsure about a count. This supports careful reading of Sahih Muslim and helps readers understand why some narrations include small wording notes.
What we learn from this hadith
- Narrator uncertainty was preserved honestly in hadith transmission.
- The report mentions another chain for the same hadith meaning.
- Small wording differences were recorded rather than ignored.
- Care in reporting is part of the value shown in this narration.
