432 — (Hadith: “Whoever defends his brother’s honor in this world, Allah will turn the Fire away from his face on the Day of Resurrection.” Al-Tirmidhī narrated it with a good chain.) p. 311.

Good. Its sources were cited under the preceding hadith, where I discussed the criticism of al-Tirmidhī’s chain. The author’s words, “with a good chain,” were taken from al-Tirmidhī’s preceding statement, “A good hadith.” This is open to question, because in al-Tirmidhī’s terminology, “a good hadith” is not equivalent to “a good chain.” Rather, it means: “a weak chain reported through other routes, none of whose narrators is accused.” The hadith is thus good by virtue of corroboration, as al-Tirmidhī himself explained at the end of his Sunan. This should be borne in mind, for it is important.

433 — (The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “A tale-bearer will not enter Paradise.” Agreed upon.) p. 312.

Authentic. It was narrated by al-Bukhārī (126/4), and in al-Adab al-Mufrad (322); Muslim (71/1); Abū Dāwūd (4871); al-Tirmidhī (364/1); Ahmad (382/5, 389, 392, 396, 402, 404); and Ibn Abī al-Dunyā in al-Samt (2/5/2), from a hadith of Hudhayfa traced back to the Prophet, with this wording. Al-Tirmidhī said, “A good, authentic hadith.”

434 — (He—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “The worst of Allah’s servants are those who go about spreading malicious gossip, sowing division between those who love one another, and seeking to find faults in the innocent.” Narrated by Ahmad.) p. 312.

He narrated it in al-Musnad (227/4), through Ibn Abī al-Husayn, from Shahr ibn Hawshab, from Abd al-Rahmān ibn Ghanm, who traced it back to the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—with the wording: “The best of Allah’s servants are those at whose sight Allah is remembered, and the worst of Allah’s servants . . .” This chain is weak because of Shahr; al-Hāfiz’s assessment of him was mentioned shortly before. Ibn Abī al-Husayn’s name was Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Rahmān