It was recorded by Abu Ya‘la in his Musnad (3/1015). Salih al-Murri and Yazid al-Raqashi are both weak, though al-Haythami, in al-Majma‘ (3/257), confined his criticism to al-Murri alone! Yet Ibn al-Mubarak narrated it from Sufyan al-Thawri, from al-Zubayr ibn ‘Adi, from Anas ibn Malik, attributing to the Prophet a similar wording. This is how he presented its chain of transmission in al-Targhib (2/128), and it is an authentic chain, free of any hidden defect. ‘Abd al-Haqq al-Ishbili alluded to this in his book al-Ahkam (no. 71—edited by me), by making no comment on it. It includes the wording: “Allah has forgiven the people of ‘Arafat and the people of al-Mash‘ar ...” See Sahih al-Targhib (1143).

The other two hadiths are also cited in al-Targhib. Although their chains of transmission are weak, they are acceptable as corroborative reports. The hadith also has another supporting narration, reported by al-Baghawi from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Zayd, from his father, from his grandfather. Al-Suyuti mentioned it in al-Jami‘ al-Kabir (1/143/2).

1625 — “Allah Most High has made the whole of this world but little; and of it, there remains only a little of that little. What remains of this world is like a small pool—meaning a pond—whose clear water has been drunk, leaving behind its murky water.”

Al-Hakim recorded it (4/320) through the route of al-Fadl ibn Muhammad al-Sha‘rani: ‘Ubayd Allah ibn Muhammad al-‘Absi narrated to us; Hammad ibn Salamah narrated to us, from ‘Asim, from Abu Wa’il, from Ibn Mas‘ud, who said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said this. Al-Hakim said: “Its chain of transmission is authentic.” Al-Dhahabi concurred with him.

I say: Rather, it is only good, because ‘Asim—who is Ibn Abi al-Najud—had some weakness in his retention.