“Its chain of transmission is good.”

I say: As noted above, I did not find him in Tārīkh Baghdād, either under the former name or under the name Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muslim, although the former is correct. I found that Ibn Batta said in al-Ibāna ʿan Sharīʿat al-Firqa al-Nājiya (folio 11/2): Abū al-Hasan Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Salm al-Mukhammarī narrated to us, saying: Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn al-Sabbāh al-Zaʿfarānī narrated to us… He then related another hadith.

Even assuming that this Ibn Salm was trustworthy, that would not establish the authenticity of the chain, because Ibn Batta himself was criticized for his memory, despite his knowledge, virtue, and righteousness. Al-Dhahabī included him in al-Duʿafāʾ and said:

“He was an authority on the Sunnah, but he would become confused and make mistakes.”

The erudite critical scholar Abd al-Rahmān al-Yamānī discussed at length what was said about his reliability as a transmitter in his book al-Tankīl, ultimately concluding that “reports transmitted by him alone cannot be used as proof.” This is what rigorous scholarly investigation requires when partisanship is cast aside and the truth is followed. Accordingly, the chain is weak. Its weakness is further confirmed by the fact that the hadith does not occur in the six principal collections, the Musnads, or other authoritative primary sources and famous hadith works. Ibn al-Jawzī said: “How excellent is the statement: ‘If you encounter a hadith that conflicts with reason, contradicts transmitted reports, or runs counter to foundational principles, then know that it is fabricated.’” He added: “For it to run counter to foundational principles means that it lies outside the Islamic corpus of Musnads and well-known books.”

12—The hadith: “A group from my nation will surely deem wine lawful, calling it by another name.” Narrated by Ahmad (p. 32).

Authentic. Ahmad, al-Nasāʾī, and Ibn Mājah narrated it with an authentic chain of transmission, as is explained