what is wrong and forbids it. I said, “O Messenger of Allah, what if he is incapable and unable to enjoin what is right or forbid what is wrong?” He said, “Let him do something for one who is helpless.” I said, “What if he is helpless and unable to do anything?” He said, “Let him assist someone who has been overcome.” I said, “What if he is weak and unable to assist one who has been wronged?” He replied, “Do you not wish to leave any good for your companion to do? Let him refrain from harming people.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, if he does that, will he enter Paradise?” He said—then he cited it…

I say: All the narrators in this chain have been declared trustworthy. Al-Haythami (3/135) said: “Al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Kabir, and its narrators are reliable.”

I say: There is evident leniency in this, for Marthad, Malik’s father—namely, Ibn Abdullah al-Zamani—was not declared trustworthy by anyone besides Ibn Hibban and al-Ijli, and no one narrated from him other than his son. Hence, al-Hafiz described him as “acceptable.” As for Hafs ibn Umar al-Raqqi, Abu Ahmad al-Hakim said: “He narrated several hadiths for which he was not corroborated.” Ibn Hibban mentioned him in al-Thiqat and said: “He would sometimes err.”

However, Abu al-Walid al-Tayalisi corroborated him: “Ikrimah ibn Ammar informed us…” as recorded by al-Bayhaqi in al-Shuab (3/204).

Yet the hadith has another chain through which it is strengthened. Al-Awzai said: Abu Kathir al-Suhaymi narrated to me from his father, who said: “I asked Abu Dharr, saying, ‘Direct me to a deed which, if a servant performs it, will admit him to Paradise.’ He said, ‘I asked the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him,’ and then cited it with similar wording.”