it was recorded by Aḥmad (2/512) and al-Ḥākim (1/413), who said: "The isnād is authentic, for al-Aʿmash verified both isnāds according to the conditions of the two Shaykhs, and we adhere to our principle of accepting additions from trustworthy narrators in isnāds and texts." al-Dhahabī agreed with him, but I have reservations about this for two reasons: the first is that Abū Bakr ibn ʿAyyāsh was not included by Muslim, only by al-Bukhārī. The other is that Abū Bakr had a weakness in his memory, even though he was trustworthy in himself, so he is not used as evidence in matters where he contradicts the trustworthy narrators. Al-Dhahabī himself said in "al-Mīzān" in his biography: "Truthful, reliable in recitation, but in ḥadīth he makes mistakes and errors." Al-Ḥāfiẓ said in "al-Taqrīb": "Trustworthy, devout, but when he grew old, his memory deteriorated, though his book is sound."

- "Shall I not inform you of the best of people in rank?" We said: "Indeed." He said: "A man holding the reins of his horse—or he said: horse—in the path of Allāh until he dies or is killed." He said: "Shall I inform you of the one who follows him?" We said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allāh." He said: "A person secluded in a mountain pass, establishing prayer, giving zakāt, and avoiding people." He said: "Shall I inform you of the worst of people in rank?" We said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allāh." He said: "The one who asks by Allāh the Almighty and does not give by it." It was recorded by al-Nasāʾī (1/358), al-Dārimī (2/201-202), Ibn Ḥibbān in his "Ṣaḥīḥ" (1593), Aḥmad (1/237, 319, 322), and al-Ṭabarānī in "al-Muʿjam"