Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 3064 — Narrating by meaning

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ali bin Husayn (may Allah have mercy on him) that while Ubayd bin Umayr (may Allah have mercy on him) was narrating hadith, and Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) was sitting with him, Ubayd said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The hypocrite is like a sheep (bewildered) between two flocks or folds (rabadayn): when it comes to these, they butt it and drive it away, and when it goes to the others, they butt it." Then Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said (correcting the wording): "It is not like that; rather, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said the words 'bayna ghanamayn' (between two flocks)." At this Ubayd bin Umayr (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "'Bayna rabadayn' and 'ghanamayn' have one and the same meaning." Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said (making clear the importance of the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) exact words): "Had I not heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) myself saying it (with the word ghanamayn), I would never have said this."
Imam Abu Dawud al-Tayalisi (may Allah have mercy on him) recorded this hadith in his Musnad. This report shows the utmost caution and technical precision of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) in transmitting the words of hadith exactly as they were.