I say: al-Bayhaqī thus seems to have indicated that the hadith is strengthened by these three routes; in this respect, he preceded Ibn Kathīr in strengthening it. And Allah, Most High, knows best.

The narrators of this mursal report are trustworthy, with the exception of Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd al-Jabbār—al-ʿAṭāridī—concerning whom there is disagreement. For this reason, al-Dhahabī said in al-Mīzān: “His hadith is good.” I previously cited a hadith from him, under no. 2458, through this very transmission from Yūnus ibn Bukayr; and, as I explained there, his hearing directly from him is established. Thus, it is a sound mursal report and a good supporting report. And Allah, Exalted is He, knows best.

Perhaps what further confirms the aforementioned direct hearing is that the opening portion of this mursal report has been authentically transmitted from Anas and others. Its documentation has also preceded under no. 2888 in the sixth volume, which has been published, praise be to Allah.

Note: Among the gross errors is Shaykh Nasīb al-Rifāʿī’s (1) attribution of the hadith under discussion to al-Bukhārī in his Abridgment of Ibn Kathīr’s Exegesis. His compatriot, Shaykh al-Ṣābūnī, likewise followed him in this in his own abridgment! What led them into this was either hasty copying from al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr or a misunderstanding of his wording. For, at the beginning of his exegesis of Surah al-Ḥadīd, he said: “We have related this hadith through several routes in the opening part of [our] commentary on the Book of Faith in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said one day to his Companions, ‘Which believers have the most remarkable faith? ...’” He then cited it, and said: “We have mentioned some of these routes at the beginning of Surah al-Baqarah.”

They failed to notice his words: “commentary”!