“It is narrated from Abū Hurayrah only through this chain of transmission, and Aḥmad alone narrated it.”

I say: He is trustworthy and a meticulous memorizer, as are those above him in the chain, except for Riyāḥ—spelled with the letter bearing two dots beneath it. Abū Zurʿah said:

“Truthful.”

Ibn Ḥibbān mentioned him in al-Thiqāt (The Trustworthy Narrators) (6/310). Al-Mīzān (The Balance) states:

“An evil man,” said Abū Dāwūd. I say: He was one of the ascetic innovators of Kūfah. He narrated from Mālik ibn Dīnār, and Rūḥ ibn ʿAbd al-Muʾmin narrated from him. Abū Zurʿah said: “Truthful.” Abū ʿUbayd al-Ājurrī (1) said: “I asked Abū Dāwūd about him, and he said: ‘He, Abū Ḥabīb, Ḥibbān al-Jurayrī, and Rābiʿah are four zindīqs (heretical unbelievers)!’”

I say: The same is found in al-Lisān (The Tongue), which adds nothing to it. Yet I see a vast disparity between this statement of Abū Dāwūd and the statements of Abū Zurʿah and Ibn Ḥibbān. Even so, I consider Abū Dāwūd’s statement an unwarranted exaggeration, even if his purpose was to dissuade people from, or warn them against, the innovation to which al-Dhahabī alluded. Apparently, he meant Riyāḥ’s excessiveness in asceticism and worship. Abū Nuʿaym related in al-Ḥilyah (The Adornment) (6/192–197) unusual and astonishing reports about him, including his statement: “I heard Mālik ibn Dīnār say: ‘A man does not attain the rank of the utterly truthful until he abandons his wife as though she were a widow and takes refuge among the dogs’ refuse heaps!’”

Al-Dhahabī cited this in his biography in al-Siyar (Biographies) (8/174), yet passed over it in silence—contrary to his usual practice regarding such a monstrous matter, which conflicts with the guidance of the Master of the Prophets and the utterly truthful, peace and blessings be upon him. Indeed, this contradicts this very hadith, which counts striving to support