Ubayd Allāh ibn Mūsā, from Matar ibn Maymūn. Ubayd Allāh ibn Mūsā was himself truthful, and al-Bukhārī narrated from him. However, he was known for Shiism, and because of his Shiism he would narrate from unreliable transmitters material that accorded with his inclinations, as he did when he narrated this report from Matar ibn Maymūn; it is a lie. He may have known that it was a lie; alternatively, because of his inclinations, he may simply not have investigated whether it was false. Had he investigated it, it would have become clear to him that it was a lie.

All this is notwithstanding the fact that the wording narrated by these hadith scholars (1) does not contain the phrase “and my successor after me”; rather, that route reads, “and my deputy over my family.” This is a limited appointment as deputy.

As for the other wording (2) narrated by Ibn Adī, he said (3): “Ibn Abī Sufyān (4) reported to us; Adī (5) ibn Sahl reported to us; Ubayd Allāh ibn Mūsā reported to us; Matar (6) reported to us from Anas, who said, ‘The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “Ali is my brother, my companion, my cousin, and the best person I shall leave behind me (7); he will settle my debt and fulfill my promise.”’” (8).

There is no doubt that this Matar was a liar; no (9) scholar of Kufa narrated from him