Ahmad (3/35 and 64) and Muslim (5/142) narrated it through Shuʿbah, from Khulayd ibn Jaʿfar, from Abu Nadrah, from Abu Saʿid al-Khudri, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Muslim does not include the words, “by which he will be recognized,” though they occur in a narration of Ahmad.

ʿAli ibn Zayd corroborated him from Abu Nadrah with the same report, except that he said, “in proportion to his treachery,” in place of, “by which he will be recognized.” Al-Tayalisi (2156) and Ahmad (3/7 and 61) narrated it, and one version in Ahmad (3/19) adds: “Indeed, the gravest treachery is the betrayal of a ruler over the people at large.” This addition is found in al-Tayalisi through this route, and in Muslim (5/143) through al-Mustamir ibn al-Rayyan, who said: Abu Nadrah narrated it to us with the same chain.

The hadith has a supporting report from Ibn ʿUmar, attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with similar wording. Ahmad (2/49) narrated it: Ibrahim ibn Wahb ibn al-Shahid narrated to us; my father narrated to us from Anas ibn Sirin, from him. I did not recognize either this Ibrahim or his father, and al-Hafiz did not provide biographies for either of them in al-Taʿjil! Ahmad then narrated it (2/70 and 126) through Bishr ibn Harb, from him, attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with wording similar to the hadith of al-Mustamir ibn al-Rayyan. Its chain is good for corroborative purposes.

Al-Bukhari (4/342), Muslim, and Ahmad (2/116) also narrated it through ʿAbd Allah ibn Dinar, from him, attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with the wording of the heading, but without the words, “at his rear.” Likewise, al-Bukhari (2/301), Muslim, and Ahmad (3/142 and 270) narrated it from Anas ibn Malik. Al-Suyuti attributed it to al-Tayalisi and Ahmad from him with the wording of the heading! I do not think it was anything but—