Al-Hafiz said in al-Taqrib: “Acceptable”!

Ibn Asakir recorded the hadith in Tarikh Dimashq (19/40/1), through Abd al-Rahman ibn Yazid ibn Tamim, who said: Isma'il ibn Ubayd Allah narrated it to me with the same chain. However, he added: “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, went out to visit one of his Companions who was ill, and Ali and I were with him. He took the man’s hand and placed his own hand upon his forehead, regarding that as part of a complete visit to the sick. Then he said …” He then cited it, but without the words, “Be of good cheer,” at its beginning, or “in the Hereafter,” at its end.

I say: This is a reprehensible addition, for Ibn Tamim alone reported it. He was weak and contradicted Ibn Jabir, who was trustworthy.

558 — “On the Day of Resurrection, the treasure of one of you will become a bald-headed serpent. Its owner will flee from it, but it will pursue him and say: ‘I am your treasure.’ By Allah, it will continue pursuing him until he stretches out his hand, whereupon it thrusts it into its mouth.”

Ahmad recorded it in al-Musnad (2/312, 316): Abd al-Razzaq ibn Hammam narrated to us; Ma'mar narrated to us from Hammam ibn Munabbih, who said: Abu Hurayrah narrated to us from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He then mentioned a number of hadiths, of which this was one.

I say: This is an authentic chain of transmission meeting the conditions of the two Shaykhs. It also has a second route.

Ahmad said (2/379): Qutaybah narrated to us; al-Layth ibn Sa'd narrated to us from Ibn Ajlan, from al-Qa'qa', from Abu Salih, from Abu Hurayrah, with a similar report. He said: “A bald-headed serpent with two black spots.”

Its chain of transmission is good. It also has a third route, recorded by Ahmad (2/489) through al-Hasan, from Abu Hurayrah, with a similar report, and he said: