“Al-Tabarani narrated it, and its chain includes Muslim ibn al-Walid ibn al-Abbas; I do not recall any criticism or accreditation concerning him!”
Al-Haythami said likewise in Majmaʿ al-Zawaʾid (1/104), except that he said:
“I have not seen anyone who mentioned him!”
I say: This biographical notice ought not to have escaped al-Haythami, for it appears in his own work, Tartib Thiqat Ibn Hibban (3/66/2). Yet exalted is He from whom nothing in the earth or heaven is hidden!
Nor is the continuity of the hadith’s chain called into question by al-Hafiz’s statement in al-Taqrib regarding al-Muttalib ibn ʿAbd Allah:
“Truthful; frequently practices concealment in transmission and omits links.”
This is because he transmitted it with a chain, rather than omitting a link, and heard it directly, rather than concealing the source, for he said—as has preceded:
“I heard a man asking ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr ...”
Thus, it is established that its chain is continuous, and all praise is due to Allah.
Moreover, the hadith has many corroborating reports, so we shall not prolong the discussion by mentioning them. *
- (A man said, “Praise be to Allah abundantly.” The angel found it too great to record and referred the matter to his Lord. He was told, “Record it as My servant said it: ‘abundantly.’”)
Al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Muʿjam al-Awsat (3/44/2082), saying: Ahmad ibn Zuhayr narrated to us; Yusuf ibn ʿAbd al-Malik al-Wasiti al-Daqiqi narrated to us—the brother of Muhammad ibn