Abu Ya‘la also recorded it in his Musnad (2/284/1001 and 8/469/5055) through another weak chain from Abu Sa‘id, in abbreviated form.
- Salman, may Allah be pleased with him:
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir (6/306/6123), following the hadith of Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, and referred back to its wording, saying:
“Something similar; and he said: ‘Scatter half of my ashes on land and half in the sea.’”
Al-Bukhari likewise narrated it (6481) at the end of Abu Sa‘id’s hadith, but he did not mention this addition in its entirety. It is, however, established in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah—as mentioned above—through the route reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim; there is therefore no doubt as to its authenticity.
Know that the statement in the hadith under discussion, “except tawhid (oneness of God),” despite having an authentic chain of transmission, was questioned by al-Hafiz Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr with respect to its transmission, although he affirmed decisively that it was sound in meaning. It is as though he had not come across its chain of transmission, for he cited it as a suspended report from Abu Rafi‘, from Abu Hurayrah. He said, may Allah have mercy on him (18/40):
“This wording—if authentic—removes the difficulty concerning this man’s faith. Even if it is not authentic by way of transmission, it is sound in meaning; all the fundamental principles support it, and sound reasoning necessitates it. For it is impossible and unacceptable that those who die as disbelievers should be forgiven, since Allah has informed us that He does not forgive associating partners with Him for one who dies a disbeliever. This cannot be disputed, and there is no disagreement concerning it among Muslims.
“The proof that the man was a believer is his reply when he was asked, ‘Why did you do this?’ He said: ‘Out of fear of You, O my Lord!’ Such fear belongs only to a believer who affirms the truth; indeed, it is scarcely found except in a …”