Al-Khatib also narrated it (5/341). This Ishaq is abandoned, as stated in al-Taqrib. Ibrahim ibn ʿUbayd ibn Rifaʿah contradicted him, narrating it from Muhammad ibn Kaʿb al-Qurazi, from Abu Surmah, from Abu Ayyub, attributing it to the Prophet, with the wording: “If you had not ...” This was cited shortly before, under no. 968. He thus added Abu Surmah to the chain of transmission, and this is correct, for Muhammad ibn Qays likewise narrated it from Abu Surmah, from him, with the wording to which we referred in connection with al-Tirmidhi, which will come under no. 1963.

Another corroborating report is the hadith of Ibn ʿAmr, attributed to the Prophet, with the wording: “If you did not sin, Allah would create a people who would sin and then forgive them.” In al-Majmaʿ (10/215), he said: “It was narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Kabir and al-Awsat. In al-Awsat, he said: ‘Allah would create a people who would sin, then seek Allah’s forgiveness, and He would forgive them; and He is the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ Al-Bazzar narrated it similarly to al-Awsat, referring to the report attributed to the Companion ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr. Their narrators are trustworthy, although there is disagreement concerning some of them.”

I say: Al-Hakim also narrated it with wording similar to that of al-Awsat, and it was cited shortly before, under no. 967. Its chain of transmission is good, as I explained there.

Another corroborating report is the hadith of Abu Saʿid al-Khudri, attributed to the Prophet, with the wording: “If you did not sin, Allah would remove you and bring a people who would sin, seek Allah’s forgiveness, and He would forgive them.” Al-Bazzar narrated it. Al-Haythami said (10/215): “It contains Yahya ibn Kathir, known as Sahib al-Basri, who is weak.”

I say: But it has a corroborating report from Abu Hurayrah with precisely this wording, with the addition at its beginning: “By Him in whose Hand is my soul.” It will come under no. 1950. Thus, the hadith is authentic by virtue of supporting evidence.

971 — “The owner of diseased camels must not bring them among healthy camels.”

It was narrated by al-Bukhari (10/198, 200), Muslim (7/32), Abu Dawud (2/158), al-Tahawi (2/275), in al-Mushkil (2/262), and Ahmad (2/406), through al-Zuhri, from Abu Salamah, from Abu Hurayrah, attributing it to the Prophet. Muhammad ibn ʿAmr also corroborated him, saying: “Abu Salamah related it to me.” Ibn Majah (2/363) and Ahmad (2/434) narrated it. Also bearing the same meaning is the Prophet’s—peace and blessings be upon him—statement to a leper: