the Prophet (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) appointed a man over a military expedition. When he went and returned to him, he asked him, "How did you find leadership?" He replied, "I was like one of the people. When I mounted, they mounted, and when I dismounted, they dismounted." The Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: ... and he mentioned it. The man said, "By Allāh! I will not work for you or anyone else ever again." The Prophet (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) laughed until his molar teeth were visible! I said: This isnād is good, and al-Haythamī critiqued it, saying: (5/201) "It was narrated by al-Ṭabarānī, and in it is ʿAṭāʾ ibn al-Sāʾib who became confused, but the rest of the men are trustworthy." And the commentator agreed with him! I said: It seems he did not notice that it is from the narration of Sufyān—who is al-Thawrī—and that he is among those who heard from him before the confusion. The ḥadīth is supported by what was narrated by Suwwār Abū Ḥamzah from Thābit from Anas: that the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) appointed al-Miqdād ibn al-Aswad over a cavalry detachment. When he returned, he said, "How did you find it?" He said, "I saw them raising and lowering, until I thought I was not that!" The Prophet (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said, "That is it." Al-Miqdād said, "By the One who sent you with the truth; I will never work in a position again." So they would say to him, "Lead us in prayer," but he would refuse