“Authentic according to Muslim’s conditions!” Al-Dhahabi concurred with him, and al-Mundhiri endorsed it in al-Targhib (2/162/20).

I say: This is an astonishing oversight on the part of these hadith masters. For this ʿUbayd ibn al-Sabbah is al-Khazzaz, as stated in al-Jarh; its author said: “I asked my father about him, and he replied: ‘He is weak in hadith.’”

Moreover, he was not among Muslim’s narrators, nor among the narrators of any of the remaining six canonical collections. Ibn Hibban mentioned him in al-Thiqat (8/429). Al-Haythami said in al-Majmaʿ (5/262):

“Al-Tabarani narrated it, and its chain includes ʿUbayd ibn al-Sabbah, who is weak.”

I say: However, he was corroborated. Al-Walid said: Ibn Lahiʿah related to me, from Yazid ibn Abi Habib, from ʿAli ibn Rabah, from Abu Qatadah al-Ansari, that a man said, “O Messenger of Allah, I wish to buy a horse; which one should I buy?” He said—and then mentioned it—except that he said, “white-muzzled,” in place of “jet-black.”

He also added after “the right [hind leg]”:

“…or a chestnut horse with these markings; you will gain spoils and remain safe.”

Al-Darimi recorded it (2/212).

Ibn Lahiʿah is truthful and may be cited as corroborative evidence, especially since one of the reliable transmitters known as the ʿAbādilah narrated it from him in abbreviated form. Al-Tayalisi said in his Musnad (84/604): ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Mubarak narrated to us, from ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUqbah al-Hadrami, from ʿAli ibn Rabah, with the same chain, as a report attributed to the Prophet, with the wording: