Asim narrated: I asked Imam Sha’bi, may Allah have mercy on him, about a hadith, so he told me that hadith. I said: Is this narrated as marfu’ (attributed) to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)? He said: No, attributing it to those after the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is more beloved to us, because if there is any addition or omission in the hadith, then it would be attributed to someone other than the Prophet (peace be upon him).