and Wakīʿ followed him: ʿUmar ibn Dharr narrated to us from him. It was recorded by Ibn Abī Shaybah (12/363/14002). Thus, the isnād is authentic and connected. There is supporting evidence for the ḥadīth from the narration of Ibn ʿAbbās who said: "The Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) never fought a people without first inviting them." It was recorded by al-Dārimī (2/217), al-Bayhaqī (9/107), Aḥmad (1/236), Abū Yaʿlá (2/674), and al-Ṭabarānī in "al-Kabīr" (3/116/1) through various chains from Sufyān al-Thawrī, from Ibn Abī Najīḥ, from his father, from Ibn ʿAbbās. I said: This isnād is authentic according to the criteria of the two Shaykhs, but al-Dārimī critiqued it by saying: "ʿUbayd Allāh (meaning Ibn Mūsá) said: Sufyān did not hear from Ibn Abī Najīḥ. He means this ḥadīth." I said: This critique is strange, for al-Thawrī is a reliable and established narrator, preferred by many over Shuʿbah, and he is known for narrating from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Najīḥ. Thus, the claim that he did not hear this ḥadīth from ʿAbd Allāh is not easily acceptable without compelling evidence, not just a mere claim. He was followed by Ḥajjāj ibn Arṭāh from Ibn Abī Najīḥ. It was recorded by Aḥmad (1/231) and Ibn Abī Shaybah (12/365/14013). And he was followed by ʿAbd al-Wāḥid ibn Ziyād from Ibn Abī Najīḥ. It was recorded by al-Ṭabarānī in "al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr" (3/111/2). And ʿAbd al-Wāḥid ibn Ziyād is a trustworthy narrator from the men of the two Shaykhs. (Note): This ḥadīth is an important principle in inviting disbelievers to Islam before fighting them,