I say: This chain of transmission is also weak. Ibn Lahi‘ah had poor retention, and concerning Miqdam, al-Dhahabi said in al-Du‘afa’ (The Weak Narrators): “He is somewhat acceptable.” Ibn Abi Hatim said: “They criticized him.” Ibn al-Qattan said: “Al-Daraqutni declared him weak.”
I say: It is also supported by the hadith: “Share your food together and mention the name of Allah over it; He will bless it for you.” Its documentation has preceded under no. 664.
Thus, taken together, the hadith is good, Allah Most High willing. Al-Suyuti attributed it to Ibn Hibban in his Sahih, but I did not find it in al-Mawarid. And Allah knows best.
- “Place between yourselves and what is forbidden a safeguard from what is lawful. Whoever does so has preserved his religion and his honour; and whoever ranges within it is like one grazing beside a protected preserve.”
Ibn Hibban narrated it in his Sahih (2551—Mawarid), as did al-Daylami (1/1/13), through ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ayyash al-Qatbani, from Ibn ‘Ajlan, from al-Harith ibn Yazid al-‘Ukli, from ‘Amir al-Sha‘bi, who said: I heard al-Nu‘man ibn Bashir say: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say—and he then mentioned it.
I say: This is a good chain of transmission. All its narrators are well-known and trustworthy. There has been some criticism of Ibn ‘Ayyash and Ibn ‘Ajlan, but it does not lower their hadith below the rank of good, Allah Most High willing.
Al-Suyuti included this hadith in al-Jami‘ al-Saghir, on the authority of Ibn Hibban and al-Tabarani in al-Kabir, with the additional wording: “He will soon fall into it. Every king has a protected preserve, and Allah’s protected preserve on earth is what He has forbidden.” Al-Manawi said in his commentary: