Verification of the text / wording: This word has been adopted from the margin of (S), where it is marked as corrected, and it means "taqaddama" (he stepped forward), as in Ibn al-Athir's "al-Nihayah" under the root (n-t-l). In (Z) and (B) it is "fa-smal", and in (Z) a dabbah (doubt mark) has been placed over it, while in (M) and ('A) a blank space has been left in its place. In the printed edition it is "fa-staqbala", which is close to the meaning of what we have adopted. Perhaps what is in (Z) was copied from an old base manuscript that had "fa-stamthala", as in the narration of "al-Musnad" (29/ 17561); it seems the copyist could not make it out because it was unclear in the base manuscript he copied from, so he wrote it as it appeared to him. Thus the word that was obscure to the copyist of (Z) is "fa-stamthala", and likewise "fa-stamthala" appears in "Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah" (12/ 102-103). It can also be taken in the meaning given in the margin of (S), because "istamthala" comes from "mathala muthulan": when someone stands upright before another.

Grading of the chain: This chain possibly merits being graded hasan, as explained at number (4827). It is in "Musnad Ahmad" (29/ 17561).

Reference / Source: Ibn Hibban (6971) narrated it by way of Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah, from 'Affan, with this chain.

Reference / Sources: Ibn Majah (144) narrated it by way of Yahya bin Sulaym al-Ta'ifi, and al-Tirmidhi (3775) by way of Isma'il bin 'Ayyash. Both of them narrate it from 'Abdullah bin 'Uthman bin Khuthaym, and they named the Companion as "Ya'la bin Murrah". Al-Tirmidhi confined himself to its final marfu' part and said: "This hadith is hasan."

Linguistic explanation: "Al-qafa": the back of the neck (the nape).