That is one of his errors, for Ibn Ḥibbān declared him trustworthy (7/537) and included a hadith from him in his Ṣaḥīḥ (510/2090—al-Mawārid). Yet the chain leading to it is weak, which is why I included it in al-Ḍaʿīfah (5766). Duḥaym likewise declared him trustworthy, and a number of trustworthy narrators transmitted from him, as al-Ḥāfiẓ himself mentioned in al-Tahdhīb. Therefore, al-Dhahabī said in al-Kāshif:

“Trustworthy.”

“Dhawāt al-qurūn” means “the fortresses”; qurūn is the plural of qarn.

“Their napes are fleshy” has the same meaning as the alternative wording: “Their napes are shaven,” such that their flesh is exposed.

“Shaven” means that all the hair of the head has been shaved.

Qirdān is the plural of qirādah: a small parasitic creature with numerous legs, which lives on animals and birds; it has various species. al-Muʿjam al-Wasīṭ. *

Glad Tidings for the Believers of Syria

3425—“There will never cease to be a group from my Ummah steadfast in upholding the cause of Allah, Most High. Those who oppose them will not harm them. They will fight their enemies; whenever one war ends, another war with another people breaks out. Allah will cause the hearts of certain people to deviate, thereby providing for them, until the Hour comes upon them like pieces of a dark night. They will be terrified by that, until they don suits of armour for it.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “They are the people of Syria.” He pointed with his finger towards Syria, moving it until it caused him pain.

It was narrated by al-Bukhārī in al-Tārīkh (2/2/248), and Yaʿqūb ibn Sufyān in