Abu Dawud and Ahmad narrated it with an authentic chain of transmission, as I have explained in Sahih Abi Dawud (1196 and 1303). Another supporting report is from Jabir, who said: “It was said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, which jihad is best?’ He replied: ‘That in which one’s steed is hamstrung and one’s blood is shed.’”

It was narrated by al-Darimi (2/201), Ibn Hibban (1608), and Ahmad (3/300 and 302).

I say: Its chain of transmission is authentic according to Muslim’s criteria. It also has another route from Jabir recorded by Ahmad (3/346 and 391). Another supporting report is from Amr ibn Abasah, with wording similar to the preceding one. Ahmad narrated it (4/114) from Abu Qilabah, from him. Its narrators are trustworthy and are among the narrators of the two Shaykhs; thus, it is authentic if Abu Qilabah heard it from Amr ibn Abasah.

1505 — “Soon a lowly man, the son of a lowly man, will gain dominion over the world, while the best of people will be a believer between two noble persons.”

Al-Tahawi narrated it in al-Mushkil (2/428): Ahmad ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn Wahb narrated to us; my uncle, Abd Allah ibn Wahb, narrated to us; Ibrahim ibn Saad al-Zuhri informed me, from al-Zuhri, who informed me that Abd al-Malik ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Harith ibn Hisham, from his father, said: A man from among the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, informed me that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said it. He then mentioned the hadith.

He then narrated it by way of Abd Allah ibn Salih: al-Layth narrated to me; Uqayl narrated to me from Ibn Shihab, who informed me that Abd al-Malik ibn Abi Bakr informed him that Abu Bakr ibn Abd al-Rahman informed him that some of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said it. He then mentioned something similar, but did not attribute it to the Prophet.