(1) The chain is sound. Regarding Muslim b. Nadhir, Abu Hatim said: “There is no harm in him,” and Ibn Hibban listed him among the reliable narrators; more than two transmitters narrated from him, and the remaining transmitters are all trustworthy. Ahmad also recorded the report (5/382, 396, 400) through Sufyan and Shuʿbah, both from Abu Ishaq. Al-Tirmidhi (1783) and Ibn Majah (3572) transmitted it via Abu l-Ahwas from Abu Ishaq; al-Tirmidhi judged the hadith “hasan sahih.” (2) Recorded by Muslim (2891, Book of Tribulations) and by Ahmad (5/388, 407). (3) Recorded by al-Bukhari (6/453-454, “Signs of Prophethood”) with the full wording: “People used to ask the Messenger of Allah about good things, whereas I asked him about evil, fearing that it might overtake me. I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, we were in ignorance and evil; then Allah brought us this good—will there be evil after this good?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘And after that evil, will there be good?’ He replied, ‘Yes, but it will contain dakhun (impurity).’ I said, ‘What will its impurity be?’ He said, ‘A people who guide according to something other than my guidance; you will approve of some of their actions and disapprove of others.’ I said, ‘Will there be evil after that good?’ He said, ‘Yes—callers at the gates of Jahannam; whoever responds to them they will cast into it.’ I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, describe them to us.’ He said, ‘They are from our own people and speak our language.’ I asked, ‘What do you command me to do if that occurs in my time?’ He said, ‘Adhere to the community of the Muslims and their leader (imam).’ I said, ‘What if they have neither community nor leader?’ He said, ‘Then keep away from all those sects, even if you must cling to the root of a tree, until death comes to you while you are in that state.’” (4) Recorded by al-Bukhari (11/433, Book of Decree, chapter: “And the command of Allah is a determined decree”) and by Muslim (2891/23).