“The finest horses are those that are black, with a white blaze on the face, whiteness around the muzzle, white markings on three legs, and no white marking on the right [foreleg]. If it is not black, then a chestnut horse with these same markings.”

I say: This is an authentic chain of transmission through Ibn al-Mubarak from Ibn Lahiʿah, in which he is ascribed to his grandfather, ʿUqbah. Al-Tirmidhi also transmitted it (1696) through al-Tayalisi’s route, where it appears as: “Ibn Lahiʿah.”

Al-Tirmidhi, al-Hakim, and Ibn Hibban (1633) then transmitted it through Yahya ibn Ayyub, from Yazid ibn Abi Habib, from ʿAli ibn Rabah, with the same chain. Al-Tirmidhi said:

“Good and authentic.”

Al-Hakim said:

“Authentic according to the conditions of the two Shaykhs.”

Al-Dhahabi agreed with him, and al-Mundhiri endorsed it (2/162/19). It is a strong supporting report for the previously cited narration of al-Darimi from Ibn Lahiʿah, from Yazid ibn Abi Habib. *

3450—“By Him in Whose Hand is my soul! If you were to wear it as a collar, you would not attain even one-tenth of his deeds until he returns”—meaning, her husband who had gone out on campaign.

Imam Ahmad (3/439) and al-Tabarani in al-Muʿjam al-Kabir (20/196/441) transmitted it through Rushdayn, from Zaban, from Sahl ibn Muʿadh ibn Anas, from his father, from the Prophet:

A woman came to him and said, “O Messenger of Allah, my husband has gone out on campaign. Whenever he prayed, I would follow his prayer, and I would emulate all his deeds. So tell me of a deed by which I may attain the level of his deeds until he returns.” He said to her:

“Can you remain standing without sitting, fast without breaking your fast, and remember Allah without slackening, until he returns?”