I say: This chain of transmission is good. Its narrators are trustworthy, though there has been criticism of Ikrimah ibn Ammar, especially concerning his narrations from Yahya ibn Abi Kathir. Al-Hafiz said: “He is truthful but makes mistakes, and his narrations from Yahya ibn Abi Kathir are inconsistent.” Once this is understood, one recognizes al-Busiri’s leniency in al-Zawa'id (278/2) when he says: “This is an authentic chain of transmission; its narrators are trustworthy.” Perhaps this resulted from the fact that the aforementioned Ikrimah was among Muslim’s narrators. It is well known that not all of Muslim’s narrators are of the same rank; some of them narrate hadiths that are good, as is clear to anyone versed in this noble science.

The hadith is supported by a report from Ibn Mas'ud, attributed to the Prophet, with the same wording except for the phrase, “and acquires it through lawful means.” Ibn Hibban recorded it (807), and its narrators are trustworthy. There is another report from Ibn Abbas, attributed to the Prophet, with similar wording. Al-Khatib recorded it in al-Tarikh (7/264).

A third report, from Abu Hurayrah and attributed to the Prophet, has similar wording, adding: “in front of him, to his right, to his left, and behind him.” Ahmad recorded it (2/428), and its chain of transmission is good. Ibn Majah (4131) recorded it without this addition, and it is also a version recorded by Ahmad (2/340). Then I found that Ahmad also recorded it (2/309, 525, and 535) through another route from Kumayl ibn Ziyad, from Abu Hurayrah, with the wording: “O Abu Hurayrah, those with the most wealth are ruined, except for one who does this, and this, and this, three—”