It was recorded by al-Tahawi in Mushkil al-Athar (2/419) and by al-Bazzar (4/244/3634), through two routes from Abd al-Aziz ibn Muslim: Subayh Abu al-Ala narrated to us from Abdullah ibn Buraydah, from his father, who said: He then related it.

I say: This is a sound chain of transmission. In al-Bazzar’s version, all its narrators are among those used by al-Bukhari, apart from Subayh Abu al-Ala. Ibn Hibban nevertheless declared him trustworthy, listing him in Thiqāt al-Tabiʿin (Trustworthy Followers) (4/385), on account of his narration from Anas and the reports from him by Hammad ibn Salamah and this Abd al-Aziz ibn al-Mukhtar. He also listed him in Thiqāt Atbaʿ al-Tabiʿin (Trustworthy Successors of the Followers) (6/478), on account of his narration from Shurayh and the reports from him by Marwan ibn Muawiyah al-Fazari.

I say: Thus, three trustworthy narrators reported from him: this Abd al-Aziz, Marwan ibn Muawiyah, and Hammad ibn Salamah; and a report of his appears in al-Bukhari’s al-Tarikh. Ibn Abi Hatim mentioned a fourth narrator from him, Muhammad ibn Jabir al-Yamami, who was truthful but poor in retention. Al-Bukhari mentioned a fifth: Adi ibn al-Fadl, but he was abandoned.

This assessment escaped the editor of Mushkil al-Athar (5/276–277), who declared it defective on the grounds that this Subayh was unknown, overlooking the reports of these four trustworthy narrators from him and Ibn Hibban’s declaration that he was trustworthy. He also declared it defective due to an alleged break between Ibn Buraydah and his father. The response to this will follow.

Regarding the hadith, al-Haythami said (10/244): “Al-Bazzar recorded it. Its narrators are those of the Sahih, apart from Subayh Abu al-Ala, who is trustworthy.”

I say: Abdullah ibn Buraydah was trustworthy. The two Shaykhs relied upon his narrations from his father and others, and he heard many hadiths from his father—contrary to one of the ignorant people who trespass against this field of knowledge and alleged that he had not heard from his father. A detailed refutation of him will follow, such as you will not find elsewhere; so consult the forthcoming hadith, no. (2914). And I do not know—by Allah—whether this claimant merely imitated the aforementioned editor in this unacceptable criticism, whether, as the saying goes, each has found his perfect match, or whether he is his pupil in this matter!