Note / Clarification: (2) In our manuscripts this name is written as "'Abdullah bin Ya'qub al-Farisi", which is a mistake. We have corrected it with the help of the author's other narrations from this same shaykh; the correct name is "'Abdullah bin Ja'far bin Durustawayh al-Farisi", the transmitter of Ya'qub bin Sufyan's book "al-Ma'rifah wa al-Tarikh".

Corroborating chains and supporting reports: (3) It is likewise in Ibn 'Asakir (58/457-458), who narrates it through the route of Abu al-Husayn Muhammad bin al-Husayn bin al-Fadl al-Qattan, from 'Abdullah bin Ja'far al-Farisi, with this chain.

Reference / Source: This narration will come under number (5256) through the route of Ya'qub bin Ibrahim, who narrates from Yahya bin Bukayr.

Reference / Source: Imam al-Tabarani also recorded it in "al-Mu'jam al-Kabir" (20/(40)) from Abu al-Zinba' Rawh bin al-Faraj, from Yahya bin Bukayr, with this chain.
Details of the narration: Except that at its end he reported these words: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) will be ahead of the scholars on the Day of Resurrection by a 'ratwah' (the distance of a step or of a throw)."

Technical note / Defect ('illah): Imam al-Dhahabi, in "Talkhis al-Mustadrak", objected to the author's (al-Hakim's) narration, saying: "This is wrong, for he (Mu'adh) was present at Badr and lived for 16 years after it. The correct view is what Musa bin 'Uqbah said: Mu'adh bin Jabal bin 'Amr, one of Banu Salimah bin al-Khazraj, died in the plague of 'Amwas at the age of 38."
Note / Clarification: We (the editors) say: Musa's statement will come under number (5253). Moreover, Yahya bin Sa'id al-Ansari agreed with Imam Malik on Mu'adh's (may Allah be pleased with him) age at the time of his death, as will come under number (5255), and it seems that Imam Malik took this from Yahya.

Note / Clarification: "Bi-ratwah" means: the distance of one step, or the distance of a throw.

Corroborating chains and supporting reports: The basis of this statement of Imam Malik bin Anas is the narration recorded by 'Umar bin Shabbah in "Tarikh al-Madinah" (3/886) and others (as already documented under hadith 5246), through the route of Abu al-'Ajfa' from 'Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: "… And if I had found Mu'adh bin Jabal and appointed him, then came before my Lord and He asked me: Whom did you appoint over the nation of Muhammad? I would say: I heard Your servant and Your beloved friend (peace and blessings be upon him) say: He (Mu'adh) will come ahead of the scholars on the Day of Resurrection by a ratwah."
Grading: Its chain is sahih, and something similar is narrated through several "mursal" routes.