and its chain is authentic according to the conditions of Muslim. Ibn Ḥibbān also recorded it (1954) through another route from him, and in it, the first characteristic is phrased as: "guidance on the path." Its chain is good. al-Ṭaḥāwī recorded it from the ḥadīth of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb in a similar manner, and it includes the two characteristics: "that you return the greeting of peace, ... guide the lost, and assist the distressed." This last statement is in the same meaning as the third characteristic: "and assist the oppressed," as is apparent. Its chain is good; its narrators are trustworthy except for ʿAbd Allāh ibn Sinān al-Harawī, about whom Ibn Abī Ḥātim did not mention any criticism or praise (2/2/68). A group of trustworthy narrators have reported from him. Assisting the oppressed is among the seven matters that were commanded in the other ḥadīth of al-Barāʾ in "the two Ṣaḥīḥs" and others.

- "If you wish, I will inform you about leadership and what it is. Its beginning is blame, its second is regret, and its third is punishment on the Day of Resurrection, except for the one who is just. But how can he be just with his relatives?" It was recorded by al-Bazzār (no. 1597) and al-Ṭabarānī in "al-Awsaṭ" (no. 6891) from Hishām ibn ʿAmmār, who narrated to us from Ṣadaqah, from Zayd ibn Wāqid, from Busr ibn ʿUbayd Allāh, from Yazīd ibn al-Aṣamm, from ʿAwf ibn Mālik, from the Prophet (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam). al-Ṭabarānī said: "It is not narrated from ʿAwf except through this chain; Zayd is unique in narrating it." I say: He is trustworthy, from the narrators of al-Bukhārī, as are those above and below him, but there is some discussion about Hishām ibn ʿAmmār. The ḥāfiẓ said: "He is truthful, a reciter, but he grew old and began to accept suggestions, so his earlier ḥadīth are more authentic."