“It was narrated by Aḥmad, al-Bazzār, and al-Ṭabarānī. Abū ʿAbd Allah al-Shāmī was mentioned by Ibn Abī Ḥātim, and no one has disparaged him; the rest of its narrators are narrators of the Ṣaḥīḥ.”

I say: It is found in al-Musnad (4/369) through al-Ṭayālisī. Abū ʿAbd Allah al-Shāmī is among the biographical entries that al-Ḥāfiẓ had not come across, for he said in al-Taʿjīl: “Abū ʿAbd Allah al-Shāmī narrated from Muʿāwiyah, and Shuʿbah narrated from him. This is how al-Haythamī mentioned him, but I have not seen any mention of him in the original of al-Musnad, nor did al-Ḥusaynī include him.” Al-Mīzān states: “Abū ʿAbd Allah al-Shāmī narrated from Tamīm al-Dārī, and Ḍirār ibn ʿAmr al-Mulṭī narrated from him; he is unknown.”

I say: He belongs to this same generation, so perhaps he is the one from whom Shuʿbah narrated, in which case he would have two transmitters. It has been said that Shuʿbah narrates only from a trustworthy narrator. And Allah knows best.

It is authentically reported from Muʿāwiyah that he heard it from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with the wording: “A group from my Ummah will continue upholding Allah’s command. Those who forsake them or oppose them will not harm them, until Allah’s command comes while they remain dominant over the people.” Muslim (6/53) and Aḥmad (4/101) narrated it from Yaḥyā ibn Ḥamzah, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Yazīd ibn Jābir, that ʿUmayr ibn Hāniʾ related to him, saying: “I heard Muʿāwiyah say from the pulpit: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say...’” He then quoted it. Aḥmad added: Mālik ibn Yukhāmir al-Saksakī stood up and said, “O Commander of the Believers, I heard Muʿādh ibn Jabal say: ‘They are the people of Syria.’” Muʿāwiyah then raised his voice and said: “Here is Mālik, maintaining that he heard Muʿādh say: ‘They are the people of Syria.’”

Al-Bukhārī also narrated it (4/187 and 8/189) from al-Walīd ibn Muslim, who said: “Ibn Jābir related it to me” in similar wording, including the addition. The hadith has other routes from Muʿāwiyah; see: “A community from my Ummah will continue...” no. (1971), and “Whomever Allah intends good for, He grants him understanding...” no. (1195).