Sufyan also narrated it from al-Amash with similar wording. Ibn Abi Shaybah recorded it in al-Musannaf (8/59).

2523 — “The finest women ever to ride camel-back are the righteous women of Quraysh: the most concerned for a child in its early years, and the most attentive to a husband with regard to his property.”

Ahmad (1/318–319) narrated it through Abd al-Hamid, who said: Shahr narrated to us; Ibn Abbas narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, proposed to a woman from a people called Sawdah. She had children—five or six—from a husband of hers who had died. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to her, “What prevents you from marrying me?” She replied, “By Allah, O Prophet of Allah, nothing prevents me from marrying you; indeed, you are the most beloved of all creation to me. But I hold you in too much esteem to have these children clamoring around your head morning and evening.” He asked, “Is there anything besides that which prevents you from marrying me?” She said, “No, by Allah.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to her, “May Allah have mercy on you. Indeed, the finest …”—and then mentioned the hadith.

Al-Hafiz said in al-Fath (9/422): “Its chain is good, and it has another route, which Qasim ibn Thabit recorded in al-Dala'il through al-Hakam ibn Aban, from Ikrimah, from Ibn Abbas, with an abridged version of the account.”

I say: Al-Hakam ibn Aban was truthful, though he made errors. Shahr in the first route is Ibn Hawshab, who was truthful but frequently narrated mursal reports and made errors, as al-Hafiz stated in al-Taqrib. Perhaps al-Hafiz’s grading of the hadith as good through his route was due only to corroborating evidence. Allah knows best. The hadith has two supporting reports; one of them is from Abu Hurayrah, with the wording: