I say: This is a strong corroboration from Ibn Lahiʿah, for his poor retention is a concern only when he is the sole narrator. Al-Mundhiri said in al-Targhib (4/233/1), after citing it with both parts:
“Ahmad and al-Tabarani narrated it through Ibn Lahiʿah, from Darraj, from him.
“Ibn Hibban, in his Sahih, and al-Hakim narrated it through ʿAmr ibn al-Harith, from Darraj, from him. Al-Hakim said: ‘Its chain of transmission is authentic’ ...”
Note: The annotators of al-Ihsan (16/512, Mu’assasah edition) and al-Mawarid (8/325, al-Thaqafah edition) have traced Ibn Hibban’s hadith and attributed it to Ahmad and al-Bayhaqi, without drawing attention to the addition of the second part found in their versions! *
His counsel concerning the Ansar in his final sermon
- “To proceed: O people! The people will increase, while the Ansar will decrease, until they become like salt in food. Whoever among you is entrusted with any matter [concerning the community of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him], and is able thereby to harm or benefit anyone, let him accept the good done by their righteous and overlook their wrongdoers.”
Al-Bukhari recorded it in his Sahih (927, 3628, and 3800)—the wording and the addition are his; al-Hakim (2/78–79) also recorded it and declared it authentic, and al-Dhahabi concurred; as did al-Bazzar in his Musnad (3/301/2798)—the forthcoming addition is his—from Ibn ʿAbbas, may Allah be pleased with them, who said:
[The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was approached and told: “Here are the Ansar—their men and women are weeping in the mosque!” He said: “What has made them weep?!”