Al-Haythami said in al-Majmaʿ (4/238): “Ahmad and al-Tabarani in al-Muʿjam al-Saghir (!) narrated it with similar wording, and its chain is good.” He then mentioned a corroborating report, attributed to the Prophet, from ʿUbadah ibn al-Samit with similar wording, and said: “Al-Tabarani narrated it, but its chain is interrupted.”

1400 — “Whatever the cupper earns, use it as fodder for the irrigation camel.”

Ahmad narrated it (4/141) from Yahya ibn Abi Sulaym, who said: I heard ʿAbayah ibn Rifaʿah ibn Rafiʿ ibn Khadij relate that, when his grandfather died, he left behind a slave girl, an irrigation camel, a boy, a cupper, and land. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said concerning the slave girl—and he forbade her earnings. Shuʿbah said: “For fear that she might commit fornication.” He also said: “Whatever the cupper earns, use it as fodder for the irrigation camel.” And concerning the land, he said: “Cultivate it, or leave it.”

I say: This is a sound chain; its narrators are trustworthy. Yahya ibn Abi Sulaym is Abu Balj al-Fazari, who is better known by his kunyah. The hadith also has corroborating reports that strengthen it. Among them is the report from Jabir: “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about the cupper’s earnings, and he said: ‘Use them as fodder for your irrigation camel.’” Ahmad narrated it (3/307 and 381): Sufyan ibn ʿUyaynah narrated to us from Abu al-Zubayr, from Jabir. In the second place, he states: “He heard Jabir.”

I say: This is an authentic chain with a continuous chain, according to Muslim’s criteria. Another is the report of Haram ibn Muhayyisah from his father: “He asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, about the cupper’s earnings, and he forbade him from them. He then mentioned his need, so he said: ‘Use them as fodder for your irrigation camels.’” Malik narrated it (2/974/28), as did al-Tirmidhi (1/241) through him, and likewise Ahmad (5/435), from Ibn Shihab, from Ibn Muhayyisah—the brother of Banu Harithah—from his father. Ibn Majah (2166) and Ahmad also narrated it by other routes from him; in some of them he is named Haram ibn Muhayyisah. Al-Tirmidhi said: