As for Ma‘qil, his retention has been subject to criticism. Al-Hafiz said in al-Taqrib: “Truthful, but makes mistakes.” He differed from Ibn Lahi‘ah in saying, “From Abu al-Zubayr, Jabir informed him,” and in saying “Medina” in place of “Mecca.” It is difficult to give preference to either of the two versions; perhaps the more likely conclusion is to reconcile them both.

Ibn Lahi‘ah’s wording, “Medina,” is supported by two corroborating reports. The first is the hadith of Anas ibn Malik, with the wording: “Medina is a sanctuary from such-and-such to such-and-such. Whoever commits a wrongful act therein, or gives shelter to an offender, upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people. Allah will accept from him neither repentance nor ransom. No weapon may be carried there for fighting.” Ahmad recorded it (3/242). Its narrators are trustworthy and are narrators of Muslim, apart from Mu’ammal—namely, Ibn Isma‘il. Al-Haythami said (3/302): “He has been declared reliable, though criticism has been made of him.”

The second is the hadith of ‘Ali, similar to Hasan’s narration from Ibn Lahi‘ah, and it includes: “...and no weapons may be carried there for fighting.” Ahmad and others recorded it with an authentic chain. It is cited in al-Irwa’ (4/250–251), and al-Hafiz deemed it strong in al-Fath (4/85).

As for Ma‘qil’s version, it is supported by the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas, traced back to the Prophet: “Indeed, Allah made Mecca sacred; it was not made lawful for anyone before me, nor will it be made lawful for anyone after me...” The hadith was recorded by al-Bukhari and others, and is cited there (4/248–249). Similar to it is the hadith of