And Ibrahim ibn al-Zabarqan was declared trustworthy by Ibn Maʿin and a group of scholars. Abu Hatim said: “His standing is that of one who is truthful; his hadith may be recorded, but not adduced as proof.”

I say: His chain of transmission has also been narrated differently. Al-Tabarani said in al-Muʿjam al-Awsat (1/259/2/4460): Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal narrated to us: Ibrahim ibn Dinar informed us: Hammad ibn Khalid al-Khayyat narrated to us, from Bishr ibn Khalid, from Atiyyah ibn al-Harith, from Humayd al-Azraq, from Masruq, from Aishah, with the same report. He said: “It is not narrated from Masruq except through this chain of transmission; Ibrahim ibn Dinar alone narrated it.”

I say: He is trustworthy and among the narrators used by Muslim, as is his teacher, al-Khayyat. As for Bishr ibn Khalid, he is unknown except through this narration of al-Khayyat. Nevertheless, Ibn Hibban mentioned him in al-Thiqat (Reliable Narrators) (8/199), where it appears as: “Bishr ibn Khalid ibn Atiyyah ibn al-Harith,” following al-Bukhari’s Tarikh—unlike what is found in al-Jarh. This agrees with the present narration and is therefore more likely correct.

I was unable to identify Humayd al-Azraq. Al-Haythami said in Majmaʿ al-Zawaʾid (7/155): “Al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Awsat, and it contains Humayd ibn al-Azraq, whom I do not know; the rest of its narrators are trustworthy.” However, it appears there as “ibn al-Azraq,” contrary to what is found in al-Awsat, as mentioned above, and contrary to his other work, Majmaʿ al-Bahrayn. It thus appears that the patronymic particle “ibn” was inserted by a copyist or printer. Allah knows best.

The hadith also has a supporting report narrated by Shahr ibn Hawshab from Asma bint Yazid, attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. It was transmitted by Abu Dawud (3982–3983), al-Tirmidhi (3112–3113), and others. A detailed discussion of its authentication will appear in its proper place in Sahih Abi Dawud, by Allah’s permission.