This is especially the case...

This is especially the case, since he has himself limited the “fault” of the riwayah to its chain. Besides, both al-Hakim (d. 403 H) and al-Dhahabi (d. 748 H) have no problem with that chain. For instance, al-Hakim records a similar chain: أخبرنا أبو محمد بن إسحاق الصفار العدل ثنا أحمد بن نصر أنبأ عمرو بن طلحة القناد ثنا أسباط بن نصر عن سماك بن حرب عن مكرمة عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما.... Abu Muhammad b. Ishaq al-Saffar al-‘Adl – Ahmad b. Nasr – ‘Amr b. Talhah al-Qanad – Asbat b. Nasr – Simak b.

Harb – ‘Ikrimah – Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both....[^6] Al-Hakim says: هذا حديث صحيح الإسناد This hadith has a sahih chain ^7 Al-Dhahabi agrees: صحيح Sahih ^8 In fact, ‘Allamah al-Albani himself has no problem with the same chain! He writes: قلت: حديث ابن عباس هذا أخرجه البخاري في (الأدب المفرد) وأبو داود والحاكم من طريق عمرو بن طلحة قال: ثنا أسباط عن سماك بن حرب عن عكرمة عن ابن عباس به....

وهذا سند جيد وقال الحاكم: (صحيح الإسناد) ووافقه الذهبي I say: This hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas is recorded by al-Bukhari (in al-Adab al-Mufrad ), and Abu Dawud and al-Hakim through the route of ‘Amr b. Talhah – Asbat – Simak b. Harb – ‘Ikrimah - Ibn ‘Abbas with it.... This chain is good .

Al-Hakim says (The chain is sahih ) and al-Dhahabi agrees with him.[^9] In another book, he also says: قلت: هذا الحديث أخرجه البخاري في " الأدب المفرد " (ص 178) ، وأبو داود (2/349) من طريق عمرو بن طلحة قال: ثنا أسباط عن سماك بن حرب عن عكرمة عن ابن عباس ....وهذا سند جيد. ثم رأيت الحاكم قد أخرجه في " المستدرك " (4/284 - 285) من هذا الوجه، وقال:" صحيح الإسناد ". ووافقه الذهبي. I say: This hadith has been narrated by al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (p.

178.and Abu Dawud (2/349) from the route of ‘Amr b. Talhah – Asbat – Simak b. Harb – ‘Ikrimah – Ibn ‘Abbas.... This chain is good . Then I saw that al-Hakim has recorded it in al-Mustadrak (4/284-285) with this chain, and said, “It has a sahih chain”. Al-Dhahabi concurred with him.[^10] So, the chain is good. But, when it comes to the fadhail of Amir al-Muminin, ‘alaihi al-salam , it becomes munkar and all sorts of unfounded allegations and excuses are raised! What disturbing double standards!

Besides, since ‘Allamah al-Albani is aware that both al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi authenticated the chain of Asbat – Simak – Ikrimah, why has he then pretended as though both doubted it? Wonders, indeed, never end! In any case, Imam Muslim (d.

✦ ✦ ✦