Al-Suyuti attributed the hadith only to Ibn al-Najjar! It is corroborated by the hadith of Fudalah ibn ‘Ubayd, attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in the wording: “The mujahid is the one who strives against himself for Allah”—or, he said, “in Allah’s cause.” Ahmad (6/20–22), al-Tirmidhi (3/2—Tuhfah), and Ibn Hibban narrated it.

I then came across the chain of transmission of the hadith through Suwayd ibn Hujayr; see “The Best of the Believers” (1491) (1624), through Abu Hani’ al-Khawlani, who reported that ‘Amr ibn Malik al-Janbi informed him that he heard Fudalah ibn ‘Ubayd narrate from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, that he said it. Al-Tirmidhi said: “A good, authentic hadith.”

I say: Its chain is good.

1497 — “The best remembrance is la ilaha illa Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and the best expression of gratitude is al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah).”

Ibn Hibban (2326), al-Khara’iti in Fadilat al-Shukr (2/2), and al-Baghawi in Sharh al-Sunnah (1/144/2) narrated it from Musa ibn Ibrahim al-Ansari, from Talhah ibn Khirash al-Ansari, who said: I heard Jabir ibn ‘Abd Allah say: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say it. Al-Baghawi said: “This is a good, singular hadith, known only through the narration of Musa ibn Ibrahim.”

I say: He is truthful but makes mistakes, as stated in al-Taqrib.

1498 — “The best speech is that which Allah chose for His servants: subhan Allah wa bi-hamdih (glory and praise be to Allah).”

Ahmad (5/148) and Ibn Bishran, in the final booklet of the thirtieth volume (fol. 3/1), narrated from ‘Affan ibn Muslim: Wuhayb narrated to us; al-Jariri narrated to us from Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Jasari, from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Samit, from Abu Dharr, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked, “Which speech is best?” He replied: “That which Allah chose…”