Some of the people said, “O Messenger of Allah, is there anyone over whom an angel stands holding a hammer who would not lose his wits at that?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, replied: “Allah keeps firm those who believe with the firm word.”

Imam Ahmad recorded it (3/3–4): Abu Amir narrated to us; Abbād ibn Rāshid narrated to us, from Dāwūd ibn Abī Hind, from Abū Naḍrah, from Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī, who said:

“I attended a funeral with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: …” Then he mentioned it.

Ibn Jarīr likewise recorded it in al-Tafsīr (13/143), as did Ibn Abī Āṣim in al-Sunnah (2/417–418/865) and al-Bazzār (1/412–413), through two other routes from Abū Amir ʿAbd al-Malik ibn ʿAmr, with the same chain.

I say: This is an authentic chain of transmission, as al-Mundhirī said (4/183/10), who attributed it to Ahmad. Al-Haythamī said (3/38):

“Ahmad and al-Bazzār reported it, and its transmitters are among those of the authentic collections.”

I say: There is some slight criticism of Abbād ibn Rāshid, but it does not impair the report. Ibn Kathīr alluded to this when he said in his exegesis, following Ahmad’s narration (2/533):

“This chain is unobjectionable, for al-Bukhārī narrated from Abbād ibn Rāshid al-Tamīmī alongside another transmitter, though some declared him weak.”

Al-Dhahabī said in al-Mughnī:

“Truthful.”

Al-Hāfiẓ likewise said so in al-Taqrīb, adding:

“He made errors.”