As for Ayub, al-Hafiz said: “Weak.”

Be aware that scholars differed over the name of this Abu Kathir, holding three views, which al-Hafiz mentioned in al-Tahdhib. After the hadith, al-Tirmidhi stated definitively that he was Yazid ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn Ghufaylah, and Abu Dawud likewise stated definitively that this was correct.

Note: Al-Baghawi said in Sharh al-Sunnah (11/353)—after citing the hadith in suspended form:

“This does not contradict the hadith of al-Numan ibn Bashir. Rather, it means that most intoxicants are made from these two, since this is what people most commonly use in making intoxicants.”

I say: The hadith of al-Numan to which al-Baghawi referred was previously cited under no. 1593 with the wording: “Indeed, intoxicants can be made from grapes …” to the end of the hadith. It also mentions dates, honey, wheat, and barley. A similar hadith from Umar ibn al-Khattab adds: “Khamr is whatever clouds the mind.”

It was recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim, as well as others, and its sources are given in al-Irwa (8/41–42). Al-Hafiz said afterward (10/35):

“It indicates the weakness of the hadith narrated from Abu Hurayrah as attributed to the Prophet …” He then cited it and said: “Or else, it was not intended to confine it to those two.”

I say: This latter interpretation is correct, as al-Baghawi decisively stated above. It is strange that he suggests the hadith is weak, though it is an authentic, mass-transmitted hadith from Abu Hurayrah’s Successor, Abu Kathir, as