It has a fourth supporting report, with the wording: “Among the best deeds are bringing joy to a believer, satisfying his hunger, clothing him, or fulfilling a need for him.” Al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Awsat (1/95/1 of al-Jam‘ bayn al-Mu‘jamayn) through Kathir al-Nawwa’, who said: “Abu Muslim al-Ansari—who was one hundred and fifty years old—related to me: I heard ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab say: ‘The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked: Which deeds are best? He replied: Bringing joy…’” He said: “It is narrated from ‘Umar only through this chain of transmission.”

I say: It is weak because al-Nawwa’—who is Kathir ibn Isma‘il al-Tamimi—is weak. I have not identified this Abu Muslim al-Ansari, al-Muhammar. The first part of it is also narrated by al-Nadr ibn Muharriz, from Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, from Jabir, who said: “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked…” Ibn ‘Asakir recorded it in al-Tarikh (17/285/2). This al-Nadr is weak.

1495 — “The best of faith is patience and generosity.”

Al-Daylami (1/1/128) narrated it from ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn al-Zubayr, from Zayd al-‘Ammi, from Mu‘awiyah ibn Qurrah, from Ma‘qil ibn Yasar, attributed to the Prophet.

I say: It is also narrated mursal from al-Hasan. I say: This chain of transmission is weak. Zayd al-‘Ammi is weak due to his poor retention, and I have not identified ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn al-Zubayr. The mursal report of al-Hasan al-Basri was given a connected chain by ‘Abd Allah ibn Ahmad in Zawa’id al-Zuhd (p. 10).