as in "Fatḥ al-bārī" (4/158). It was also narrated by al-Ḥākim (1/433) who said: "Authentic according to the criteria of al-Shaykhayn." Al-Dhahabī agreed with him! However, it is only according to the criteria of Muslim alone, as ʿUmar ibn Saʿd was not included by al-Bukhārī in anything. The purpose of his statement ﷺ: "Set out for your two companions..." is to express disapproval and to clarify that it is better for them to break their fast and not burden others with serving them. This is explained by what was narrated by al-Firyābī (67/1) from Ibn ʿUmar (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhu) who said: "Do not fast while traveling, for if they eat food, they say: 'Serve the fasting person!' And if they do work, they say: 'Take care of the fasting person!' Thus, they take away your reward." Its narrators are trustworthy. I say: In the ḥadīth, there is noble guidance towards upright character, which is self-reliance and avoiding dependence on others or making them serve you, even for a legitimate reason like fasting. Is there not in the ḥadīth a clear refutation of those who exploit their work, compelling people to rush to serve them, even to the extent of carrying their sandals?! And if some say: The Companions (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhum) served the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) with the best service, to the extent that among them was one who carried his sandals ﷺ, and he was ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd. Our response is yes, but is their argument for themselves anything other than self-praise and an admission that they view themselves as his ﷺ heirs in knowledge, so that this analogy is valid for them?! By Allāh, if they had a text stating that they are the heirs, this analogy would not be permissible for them,