whose period of slackening is directed toward the Book and the sunnah is as he should be; (1) but whoever’s period of slackening is directed toward disobedience to Allah is doomed.” Ahmad narrated it (2/165).

I say: This is a good chain of transmission, in which Ibn Ishaq explicitly stated that he heard it directly. The hadith has another route through Mujalid, from Mujahid, with similar wording. Ahmad narrated it, and Ibn Hibban authenticated it. It has been cited in Zilal al-Jannah (51).

Al-Bazzar also narrated it (1/347/724) through Jarir, from Muslim, from Mujahid, from Ibn Abbas, who said: A freedwoman of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to fast by day and stand in prayer by night. It was said to him: “She fasts by day and stands in prayer by night.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Every deed has a period of zeal…”—the hadith. Al-Bazzar said: “Muslim alone narrated it.”

I say: In my assessment, he is Muslim ibn Kaysan al-Mula’i al-A‘war, and he is weak. He differed by placing Ibn Abbas in the place of Ibn Amr, but it is acceptable as supporting evidence.

2851 — “Indeed, some poetry contains wisdom.”

Al-Bukhari narrated it in his Sahih (7/107) and in al-Adab al-Mufrad (124 and 125), as did Abu Dawud (2/315), al-Darimi (2/296–297), and Ibn Majah (2/