1763 — “Camels are a source of honor for their owners, sheep are a blessing, and goodness is tied to the forelocks of horses until the Day of Resurrection.”

Ibn Majah (2305) and Abu Ya‘la in his Musnad (4/1614) recorded it, saying: Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Numayr narrated to us; Abdullah ibn Idris narrated to us, from Husayn, from ‘Amir, from ‘Urwah al-Bariqi, who attributed it to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and narrated it.

I say: This is an authentic chain of transmission according to the criteria of al-Bukhari and Muslim, as stated in al-Zawa’id (162/1), which says: “Both of them cited all its narrators. Al-Bukhari, Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, and al-Nasa’i also narrated it through ‘Amir al-Sha‘bi, restricting themselves to the account concerning horses and omitting its beginning. Al-Darimi narrated it likewise.”

It also has a supporting narration from Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with the addition: “Your servant is your brother, so treat him well; and if you find him overcome, then assist him.” Al-Bazzar recorded it (no. 1685) from Abu Yahya al-Himmani, Abd al-Hamid ibn Abd al-Rahman: al-Hasan ibn Abi al-Hasan al-Bajali narrated to us, from Talhah ibn Musarrif, from Abu ‘Ammar, from ‘Amr ibn Shurahbil, from him. He said: “We know of no report from Hudhayfah except through this chain of transmission, and I think that al-Hasan al-Bajali is Ibn ‘Umarah.”

I say: He is abandoned, as stated in al-Taqrib. Al-Haythami’s statement (5/259), “He is weak,” is either due to his laxity or to leniency in his wording; for the man’s condition is worse than that, as is well known among the scholars. Therefore, he is not suitable to be used as supporting evidence.