- “A single dirham of ribā that a man knowingly consumes is more grievous before Allah than thirty-six acts of fornication.”
Al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Awsat (1/142–143), and al-Daraqutni (295), through Layth ibn Abi Sulaym, from Ibn Abi Mulaykah, from ‘Abd Allah ibn Hanzalah al-Rahib, attributed to the Prophet. Ibn ‘Asakir (9/74/2) also narrated it through this route.
I say: This chain is weak because of Layth ibn Abi Sulaym, who became confused in his later years. Moreover, ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Rufi‘ differed from him, reporting from Ibn Abi Mulaykah, from ‘Abd Allah ibn Hanzalah, from Ka‘b as his own statement. This is the correct version, as al-Baghawi said. Ibn ‘Asakir mentioned it, and Ahmad (5/225) narrated it through an authentic chain from Ibn Rufi‘. Al-Daraqutni likewise narrated it and said: “This is sounder than the version attributed to the Prophet.”
However, Ayyub corroborated him, reporting from Ibn Abi Mulaykah, from ‘Abd Allah ibn Hanzalah, attributing it to the Prophet with the same wording. Ahmad narrated it: Husayn ibn Muhammad narrated to us: Jarir—that is, Ibn Hazim—narrated to us from Ayyub, with this chain. Al-Daraqutni also narrated it.
I say: This is an authentic chain meeting the conditions of al-Bukhari and Muslim. Those who deem it defective on account of Jarir’s deterioration before his death are mistaken, for—as Ibn Mahdi said—no one heard from him during the period of his confusion. Furthermore, the report attributed to the Companion has the ruling of a report attributed to the Prophet, since such a matter cannot be stated on the basis of mere opinion, as is clear.
- “No tale-bearer will enter Paradise.”
Al-Bukhari (7/86), Muslim (1/71), Abu Dawud (2/297), al-Tirmidhi (1/364), who graded it authentic, al-Tayalisi (p. 56, no. 421), and Ahmad (5/382, 389, 392, 402, and 404) narrated it from Hammam ibn al-Harith, from Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, attributed to the Prophet.
Muslim, Ahmad (5/391, 396, 398, and 406), and Ibn Hibban in Rawdat al-‘Uqala’ (p. 153) also narrate it through another chain from him, from Abu Wa’il, with the wording: “A gossipmonger.” It has the same meaning as “a tale-bearer.”
- “Among the deeds that bring about forgiveness are offering greetings of peace and speaking graciously.”
Al-Khara’iti narrated it in Makarim al-Akhlaq (p. 23): Salih ibn