“Al-Bazzar reported it, and its chain includes Shabib ibn Bishr, who is somewhat weak. Ibn Hibban declared him trustworthy, but said: ‘He makes mistakes’; and the rest of its narrators are narrators of the Sahih.”

I say: Ibn Ma‘in also declared him trustworthy, and the preponderant view concerning him is what we mentioned above. The second part of the hadith has another chain from Anas, which I cited earlier under 1887, and another supporting report from Abu Hurayrah, which I mentioned there. It also has a further supporting report from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amr, which will appear under hadith 2253. Thus, the hadith is authentic.

2239 — “By means of this Book, Allah raises some people and lowers others.”

Muslim (2/201), al-Darimi (2/443), and Ibn Majah (no. 206, edited by al-A‘zami) recorded it through al-Zuhri, from ‘Amir ibn Wathilah: Nafi‘ ibn al-Harith met ‘Umar at ‘Usfan. ‘Umar had appointed him over Mecca, and asked, “Whom have you appointed over the people of the valley?” He replied, “Ibn Abza.” He asked, “And who is Ibn Abza?” He replied, “A freedman of ours.” He said, “Have you appointed a freedman over them?!” He replied, “He is a reciter of the Book of Allah and knowledgeable in the laws of inheritance.” ‘Umar said, “Indeed, your Prophet said”—and then he mentioned the hadith.

2240 — “It will be said to the companion of the Quran: ‘Recite, ascend, and recite in a measured manner as you used to recite in the worldly life, for your station will be at the last verse that you [used to] recite.’”

Abu Dawud (1464), al-Tirmidhi (2915), Ibn Hibban (1790)—the additional wording is his—and al-Hakim (1/552–553), Ibn Abi Shaybah in al-Musannaf (10/498), Ibn Nasr in Qiyam al-Layl (p. 70), Ahmad (2/192), and al-Ramahurmuzi in al-Muhaddith al-Fasil recorded it.