the earth. Moreover, if this were true, it would have been among the greatest wonders of the world, which the Companions would have reported, for they reported lesser events that occurred at Khaybar and elsewhere.

Even if a report that could conceivably be true were transmitted through this chain, nothing would be established by it. For ‘Alī ibn Hāshim ibn al-Barīd was extreme in his Shi‘i partisanship, narrating from anyone who encouraged him to pursue what would reinforce his partisan inclinations (1). He narrated from people such as this Sabāh, whose identity is unknown. Among the narrators of this generation is Sabāh ibn Sahl al-Kūfī, who narrates from Husayn ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmān.

Al-Bukhārī, Abū Zur‘ah and Abū Hātim said: “His hadiths are rejected.” Al-Dāraqutnī said: “He is weak.” Ibn Hibbān said: “He narrates rejected reports from well-known narrators; his reports may not be used as evidence.”

There is another narrator called Sabāh ibn Muhammad ibn Abī Hāzim al-Bajalī (2) (* al-Ahmasī al-Kūfī, who narrates from Murrah al-Hamdānī. Ibn Hibbān said: “He attributes fabricated reports to trustworthy narrators.”

There is also a man called Sabāh *) (3) al-‘Abdī (4). Al-Rāzī said: “He is unknown.” Another is called Ibn Mujālid; he is unknown, and Baqiyyah narrates from him (5). Ibn ‘Adī said: “He is not known; he is one of Baqiyyah’s (6) unknown teachers.”