according to Muslim’s criteria,” and al-Dhahabī concurred! Yet its chain includes ʿAmr ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Saybānī, whose unknown status he indicated in al-Mīzān by saying:

“I do not know of anyone besides Yaḥyā ibn Abī ʿAmr al-Saybānī who narrated from him.”

In al-Kāshif (2/335), he says: “He was declared trustworthy.” This indicates that he regarded Ibn Ḥibbān’s declaring him trustworthy as weak evidence, since Ibn Ḥibbān declares unknown narrators trustworthy.

Al-Ḥākim also narrated it (4/511) through Saʿīd ibn Sinān, from Abū al-Zāhiriyyah, from Kathīr ibn Murrah, from Ibn ʿUmar, may Allah be pleased with him: the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about the food of the believers in the time of the Dajjal. He said, “The food of the angels.” They asked, “And what is the food of the angels?” He said, “Their food is their speech in declaring Allah’s transcendence and sanctity...” The hadith then continues with similar wording. He said:

“Its chain of transmission is authentic according to Muslim’s criteria.”

Al-Dhahabī rejected this, saying:

“I say: No indeed; Saʿīd is accused and utterly unreliable.”

He was correct here, may Allah Most High have mercy on him.

A third supporting narration comes through Shahr ibn Ḥawshab, from Asmāʾ bint Yazīd ibn al-Sakan, with a shortened wording similar to the hadith of Ibn ʿUmar. Ibn ʿAsākir narrated it in Tārīkh Dimashq (1/616–617).

As for the statement concerning the Arabs, it has a supporting narration from Umm Shurayk, recorded by Muslim (8/207), Ibn Ḥibbān (6759), and Aḥmad (6/462). *