that it is not preserved with this wording, but the other chain and the corroborating evidence strengthen it and indicate that it has a solid basis. And Allāh knows best.

- "Whoever lives in the desert becomes harsh, whoever follows hunting becomes heedless, whoever approaches the doors of the rulers is subjected to trials, and no one draws closer to the ruler without becoming more distant from Allāh." It was narrated by Aḥmad (2/371 and 440) and Ibn ʿAdī (14/1) from Ismāʿīl ibn Zakarīyā from al-Ḥasan ibn al-Ḥakam al-Nakhaʿī from ʿAdī ibn Thābit from Abū Ḥāzim from Abū Hurayrah as a marfūʿ ḥadīth, and he said: "I do not know anyone else who narrates it except Ismāʿīl ibn Zakarīyā, and he is reliable in ḥadīth; his ḥadīth is recorded." I say: This chain is good, as the rest of the narrators in the chain are all trustworthy, and Ismāʿīl was relied upon by the two Shaykhs, and al-Ḥāfiẓ said: "Truthful, but makes few mistakes." Shurayk disagreed, saying: from al-Ḥasan ibn al-Ḥakam from ʿAdī ibn Thābit from al-Barāʾ who said: The Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: "Whoever lives in the desert becomes harsh." It was narrated by Aḥmad (4/297). I say: Shurayk has poor memory and is not relied upon when he is alone, so how can he be relied upon when he contradicts others?

- "Indeed, Islam began as something strange and will return to being strange as it began, so blessed are the strangers." It was asked: Who are they, O Messenger of Allāh? He said: "Those who rectify themselves when the people become corrupt." It was narrated by Abū ʿAmr al-Dānī in "al-Sunan al-Wāridah fī al-Fitan" (25/1) from Muḥammad ibn Ādam al-Maṣīṣī, narrated to us by Ḥafṣ ibn Ghiyāth from al-Aʿmash from Abū Ṣāliḥ from Abū al-Aḥwaṣ from ʿAbdullāh, meaning Ibn Masʿūd, as a marfūʿ ḥadīth. I say: This chain is authentic; its narrators are trustworthy, the narrators of the authentic collections except for Muḥammad ibn Ādam