I say: Al-Ḥākim and al-Dhahabī made no comment on it. Its chain contains weakness, for Ribāḥ ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān and Abū Thufāl—whose name was Thumāmah ibn Wāʾil—are both unknown narrators. Al-Ḥāfiẓ said of each of them: “Acceptable.”

Al-Haythamī said in al-Majmaʿ (4/18): “Aḥmad narrated it, and its chain includes Abū Thufāl, concerning whom al-Bukhārī said: ‘There is concern regarding him.’” He then cited a supporting narration for it from the hadith of Kabīrah bint Sufyān, attributed to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, with similar wording. Al-Ṭabarānī narrated it in al-Kabīr, and its chain includes Muḥammad ibn Sulaymān ibn Masmūl, who is weak.

I say: There is disagreement concerning him, though Ibn Ḥibbān and Ibn Shāhīn declared him trustworthy. Thus, someone like him may be used as corroborating evidence, if Allah Most High wills. Accordingly, the hadith is good on account of it. And Allah knows best.

It is also supported by what al-Ṭabarānī narrated (no. 11201) by way of Ḥamzah al-Naṣībī, from ʿAmr ibn Dīnār, from Ibn ʿAbbās, who said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Treat goats well ... for the blood of a white sheep is greater before Allah than the blood of two black sheep.” But concerning this al-Naṣībī, al-Ḥāfiẓ said: “Abandoned, accused of fabrication.” Thus, it cannot be used as corroborating evidence; what has preceded is sufficient.

Afraʾ: from ʿufrah, a whiteness that is not bright.

1862 — “Go on, defend yourself.”

It was recorded by al-Bukhārī in al-Adab al-Mufrad (558) and Ibn Mājah (1/610–611)