(1) There is an obvious difference between the two versions: the first concerns earlier peoples—the Jews and the Christians, as the preceding hadiths state—whereas the second concerns anyone in this community who follows their path; this meaning is supported by hadiths (6, 7 and 12). (2) Reported by Ahmad (nos. 1691 and 1694), al-Tahawi in Mushkil al-athar (4/13), Abu Ya‘la (1/57) and Ibn ‘Asakir (8/367/2) with an authentic chain of transmission. Al-Haythami says in Majma‘ al-zawaid (5/325): “Ahmad transmitted it through two isnads whose narrators are reliable and continuous, and Abu Ya‘la also related it.” I add: this statement needs reconsideration, for all three isnads he alludes to revolve around Ibrahim ibn Maymun from Sa‘d ibn Samurah; the third, however, inserts between them Ishaq ibn Sa‘d ibn Samurah—a mistake, as al-Hafiz explains in al-Ta‘jil. Moreover, this third isnad does not contain the words, “And know that the worst of people….” Al-Haythami cites the hadith elsewhere (2/28) in similar terms, adding: “It was reported by al-Bazzar, and its transmitters are trustworthy.” It also has a mursal corroboration from ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz with a similar wording, recorded by Ibn Sa‘d (2/254).