2797 — “The world is accursed, and all that it contains is accursed, except the remembrance of Allah and that which is connected to it, or a scholar or a learner.”

It was recorded by al-Tirmidhi (2323), Ibn Majah (4112), and al-Asbahani in al-Targhib (folio 223/2), through Ibn Thawban, from Ata ibn Qurrah, from Abdullah ibn Damrah al-Sululi, who said: Abu Hurayrah narrated to us, saying: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say this.

Al-Tirmidhi said: “A good, singular hadith.” I say: It is as he said, or close to it. Al-Mundhiri concurred with this in al-Targhib (1/56), for all its narrators are known and reliable, apart from Ata ibn Qurrah. Ibn Hibban deemed him trustworthy among the Successors of the Successors (7/252). However, al-Tahdhib mentions that a number of reliable narrators transmitted from him, including al-Awzai and al-Thawri. Perhaps for this reason he was described in al-Taqrib as: “Truthful, though he makes mistakes.” Thus, his hadith is good, if Allah Most High wills. This is further supported by al-Dhahabi’s statement in al-Mughni: “Truthful.”

Al-Tirmidhi recorded it through Ali ibn Thabit—al-Jazari—while the other two recorded it through Abu Khulayd Utbah ibn Hammad; both narrated it from Ibn Thawban, namely Abd al-Rahman ibn Thabit ibn Thawban, through this chain. They were contradicted by Abu al-Mutarrif al-Mughirah ibn al-Mutarrif, who said: Ibn Thawban narrated to us from Abdah ibn Abi Lubabah, from Abu Wail, from Ibn Masud, attributing it to the Prophet with the same wording. It was recorded by al-Bazzar (4/108/3310) and al-Tabarani in al-Awsat (no. 4248—my copy), who said: