The tradition has been narrated on the authority of Sa'id b. Musayyib who learnt it from his father. The latter said:I had seen the tree. When I came to the spot afterwards, I could not recognise it.
وَحَدَّثَنِي حَجَّاجُ بْنُ الشَّاعِرِ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا شَبَابَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ الشَّجَرَةَ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهَا بَعْدُ فَلَمْ أَعْرِفْهَا.
Muslim
The Book on Government • Hadith 117