It seems that he was referring to al-Ajlah, who was truthful, as al-Hafiz stated, though there are slight reservations concerning him. Ibn Kathir said in al-Bidayah (4/136):
“This route from Ibn ‘Abbas is extremely singular. The more likely version is Imam Ahmad’s narration from Jabir—unless al-Ajlah narrated it from al-Dhayyal, from Jabir, and from Ibn ‘Abbas. And Allah knows best.”
I say: If there is an error here, I believe it is from Abu Bakr ibn ‘Ayyash, for he had some weakness in his retention, despite being one of al-Bukhari’s narrators.*
- “The wicked among this community will surely follow the ways of those who came before them—the People of Scripture—feather for feather.”
Ahmad (4/125), al-Tabarani in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir (7/338/7140), and Ibn ‘Adi (4/40) narrated it through ‘Abd al-Hamid ibn Bahram, who said: Shahr ibn Hawshab narrated to us; Ibn Ghanam told me that Shaddad ibn Aws related to him from the Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—as a prophetic report.
I say: This is a good chain as corroborative evidence, for Shahr is subject to differing assessments, and some scholars consider his hadith good, especially when transmitted from him by ‘Abd al-Hamid ibn Bahram. Al-Haythami said in al-Majma‘ (7/261):
“Ahmad and al-Tabarani narrated it, and its narrators are subject to differing assessments.”
It has many corroborating reports, of which I shall mention those readily available:
The first is from Ibn Mas‘ud, who said: The Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—said:
“Of all nations, you most closely resemble the Children of Israel. You will surely follow their way, feather for feather, until there is nothing