And Isḥāq ibn Abī al-Furāt, concerning whom al-Ḥāfiẓ said: “Unknown.” However, the hadith has another chain that lends it strength: Fulayḥ narrated it from Saʿīd ibn ʿUbayd ibn al-Sabbāq, from Abū Hurayrah, tracing it back to the Prophet, with the wording: “Before the Hour there will be deceitful years ...” The hadith does not include the words: “And what is the Ruwaybiḍah ...?”

Aḥmad narrated it (2/338).

I say: The narrators of this chain are trustworthy and are narrators of the two Shaykhs, except Ibn al-Sabbāq, who is trustworthy. However, Fulayḥ—who is Fulayḥ ibn Sulaymān al-Khuzāʿī—has been criticised regarding his precision of retention, to the extent that al-Ḥāfiẓ said: “Truthful, but makes many errors.” Thus, through its two chains together, the hadith is good. It also has a supporting narration that adds further strength: Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq narrated it from Muḥammad ibn al-Munkadir, from Anas ibn Mālik, tracing it back to the Prophet, with the wording: “Indeed, preceding the Dajjal will be deceitful years ...” The hadith is similar, except that it says: “A petty evildoer will speak about public affairs.”

Aḥmad narrated it (3/220). Its narrators are trustworthy, were it not for Ibn Isḥāq’s use of the ambiguous “from” formula.

1888 — “They will give charity and wage jihad once they embrace Islam.” That is, Thaqīf.

Aḥmad narrated it (3/341) from Ibn Lahīʿah: Abū al-Zubayr narrated: I asked Jābir about the case of Thaqīf when they gave their pledge of allegiance. He said: