“The thin fat covering a cow’s stomach”—that is, when, at sunset, it becomes dispersed, covering one area but not another. He likened it to tharb, the singular of athrub: the thin layer of fat that covers the stomach and intestines. This is a plural of paucity; its plural plural is athārib, as stated in al-Nihāyah.

1746 — “Shall I not direct you to one of the gates of Paradise? There is no power and no strength except through Allah.”

Al-Tirmidhi (4/284), al-Hakim (4/290), Ahmad (3/422), and al-Khatib in al-Tarikh (6/78, 12/428) narrated it through Maymun ibn Abi Shabib, from Qays ibn Saʿd ibn ʿUbadah, “whose father sent him to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to serve him. He said: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, passed by me after I had prayed, and nudged me with his foot, saying…” Then he mentioned it.

Al-Tirmidhi said: “A good, authentic, singular hadith through this route.” Al-Hakim said: “Authentic according to the criterion of al-Bukhari and Muslim.” Al-Dhahabi agreed with him. That is what they said, but neither al-Bukhari nor Muslim relied upon this Maymun: al-Bukhari only cited him in a suspended report, while Muslim cited him in the introduction. Thus, it is authentic only.

1747 — “Shall I not direct you to the foremost supplication for forgiveness? O Allah, You are my Lord; there is no god worthy of worship but You. You created me, and I am Your servant and the son of Your servant. I remain, to the best of my ability, faithful to Your covenant and promise. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge before You Your blessing upon me, and I confess my sins; so forgive me my sins, for none forgives sins but You. No one says it in the evening except that Paradise becomes assured for him.”

Al-Tirmidhi (4/229) narrated it from Kathir ibn Zayd, from ʿUthman ibn Rabiʿah, from Shaddad ibn Aws, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said it. Then he mentioned it, and said: