This differs from Hisham’s wording, as is apparent; it is therefore rejected because of this discrepancy. And Allah knows best.
- “Traders are indeed wicked sinners.” It was said: “O Messenger of Allah, has Allah not permitted trade?” He said: “Indeed He has, but they speak and lie, and they swear oaths and thereby sin.”
Ahmad (3/428), al-Tahawi in al-Mushkil (3/12), and al-Hakim (2/6–7) narrated it through Hisham al-Dastuwa’i, from Yahya ibn Abi Kathir, who said: Abu Rashid al-Hubrani told me that he heard Abd al-Rahman ibn Shibl say it, attributing the report to the Prophet.
Al-Hakim said: “Its chain of transmission is authentic. Hisham ibn Abi Abdullah explicitly mentioned Yahya ibn Abi Kathir’s direct hearing from Abu Rashid. Hisham is trustworthy and dependable, whereas Aban ibn Yazid al-Attar inserted Zayd ibn Salam between them.” Al-Dhahabi concurred with him, and they were correct.
Al-Hakim and Ibn Asakir (7/486/2) then narrated it through Aban with this chain. Ibn Asakir also explicitly stated that Yahya heard directly from Zayd ibn Salam.
Ma‘mar differed from them, saying: from Yahya ibn Abi Kathir, from Zayd ibn Salam, from his grandfather, who said: Mu‘awiyah wrote to Abd al-Rahman ibn Shibl, instructing him: “Teach the people what you heard from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.” So he gathered them and narrated it as a report attributed to the Prophet. Ibn Asakir narrated it.