ibn ‘Umar: ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir informed us, from Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, from Jabir ibn ‘Abd Allah, that the Messenger of Allah said it.
I say: This chain of transmission is weak. Its narrators are trustworthy and are among the narrators of the two Sahih collections, apart from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir, who is weak. However, he is not alone in narrating it. Al-Hakim recorded it (1/399) through Ayyub ibn Sulayman ibn Bilal (1), who said: Abu Bakr related to me, from Sulayman ibn Bilal, who said: Zayd ibn Aslam said: Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir narrated it likewise. He said: “Authentic according to the conditions of the two Sahih collections,” and al-Dhahabi agreed with him.
I say: Muslim did not record anything from Ayyub ibn Sulayman. Abu Bakr’s name was ‘Abd al-Hamid ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Uways al-Asbahi. He was well known by his kunyah and was trustworthy; both of them narrated from him.
It also has a supporting report from the hadith of Ibn ‘Umar, attributed to the Prophet, with the beginning omitted. Ibn ‘Adi recorded it (fol. 174/2). Its chain is acceptable for corroborative purposes.
It has another supporting report from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah, attributed to the Prophet, with wording like that of the heading. Ibn Hibban (2465) and Ahmad (2/235) recorded it through Muhammad ibn Ishaq, from Muhammad ibn Ibrahim, from Abu Salamah, from him. He said: “We know of no report with this wording through a chain better than this.”
I say: It is good, were it not for Ibn Ishaq’s unexplicit use of the transmission formula “from.” Al-Bazzar also recorded it (240). Ibn Hibban (1919) and Ahmad (2/403) also narrated it through this route with the wording, “best in character,” in place of “best in deeds.” This wording has a supporting report in the two Sahih collections and elsewhere; it has preceded under no. 286.
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