It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Humayd and Sayyiduna Abu Usaid (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When you hear a hadith attributed to me (then see whether) your hearts are familiar with it, and your hair and skin become soft for it, and you see that you too could say such a thing, then I am most deserving of having said such (a hadith). But if you see that the hadith attributed to me is being rejected by your hearts, and your hair and skin feel aversion to it, and you see that you could not say such a thing, then I am the farthest from it."

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "When you narrate a hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)," and in another narration: "When I narrate to you any hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then consider that statement as a hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) which is more guiding, better in manner, and more pious."

(Second chain) There is a similar narration, except that it contains these words: "Whatever is more pleasant, more pious, and more guided, consider it to be the hadith of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him."