I say: This Abu Humayd is unknown. It has also been said that he was Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'd al-Muq'ad, whom al-Nasa'i declared trustworthy. Allah knows best.

Ibn Abi al-Ishrin narrated it from al-Awza'i, from al-Zuhri, from Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib, from Abu Hurayrah, in an abbreviated form, with the wording: “You will be sifted as dates are cleared of their refuse.” Ibn Hibban recorded it (1833).

I say: Ibn Abi al-Ishrin was named Abd al-Hamid ibn Habib. Al-Hafiz said: “Truthful, though he sometimes erred.” I say: I fear that his error lay in its chain of transmission, when he said, “Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib,” in place of Abu Humayd, as in the narration of Yunus ibn Yazid, who was trustworthy. Allah knows best. In sum, the hadith under discussion is good on account of the hadith of Abu Hurayrah, but not vice versa, since the corroborating report contains something not found in the report it corroborates. Reflect on this.

1782 — “Marry, for I will boast of your numbers before the nations on the Day of Resurrection; and do not be like the monasticism of the Christians.”

Al-Bayhaqi recorded it in al-Sunan al-Kubra (7/78), through Ibn 'Adi; and this is in al-Kamil (fol. 329/1), from Muhammad ibn Thabit al-Basri, from Abu Ghalib, from Abu Umamah, attributed to the Prophet.

I say: This is a good chain for corroborating reports, for Muhammad ibn Thabit al-Basri—who was al-'Abdi—was described by al-Hafiz as: “Truthful, but somewhat weak in hadith.”