The two Shaykhs also recorded it in the hadith: “None but a believer loves the Ansar.” It will be cited, Allah willing, under no. 1975.

It has also been narrated in precisely this wording from Abu Hurayrah. Ahmad recorded it (2/501 and 527) through Muhammad ibn ‘Amr, from Abu Salamah, from him. This is a good chain of transmission. Al-Haythami said (10/39): “Abu Ya‘la recorded it, and its chain of transmission is sound. Al-Bazzar also recorded it, and among its narrators is Muhammad ibn ‘Amr, whose hadith is good; the rest of its narrators are narrators of the Sahih.” It seems that he overlooked its presence in the Musnad through this route; otherwise, he would have attributed it to Ahmad before those others.

It has also been narrated, in a report attributed to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), from al-Harith ibn Ziyad. Ibn Hibban recorded it (2291). It has likewise been narrated from Mu‘awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan. Ahmad also recorded it (4/100) through al-Hakam ibn Mina’, from Yazid ibn Jariyah, from him. This chain of transmission may be graded good, or it is good in light of supporting evidence.

Al-Haythami said: “Ahmad and Abu Ya‘la recorded it—the latter said: ‘Likewise’—as did al-Tabarani in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir and al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat; and Ahmad’s narrators are narrators of the Sahih.” This is what he said, but it is incorrect, for this Yazid ibn Jariyah was not narrated from by any of the Six except al-Nasa’i, although he declared him trustworthy. Yet al-Haythami’s book has, “from Zayd ibn Thabit,” in place of, “Yazid ibn Jariyah.” I do not know whether the error came from him or from one of the copyists.

The hadith has also been narrated with the wording: “Whoever loves the Ansar loves them out of love for me, and whoever hates the Ansar hates them out of hatred for me.” Al-Tabarani narrated it from Abu Hurayrah. It says in Majma‘ al-Zawa’id (10/39):