Note / Clarification: This was missing from the manuscripts; we have supplied it from "Musnad al-Humaydi" (74). This Sufyan is Ibn 'Uyaynah.

Note / Clarification: In the manuscripts the word is "يتهدده", while we have kept the text of the printed edition, which agrees with the sources of the takhrij. "Yahtadiruhu" means: he will make it fall.

Note / Clarification: In the manuscripts it reads "راعي الخيل وراعي الخيل" (repeated), which makes no sense. What we have established, following some of the sources of the takhrij, is the preferred reading, and it appears to be a doubt on the part of the narrator.

Grading: Its chain can possibly be graded hasan. Its narrators are all trustworthy and well known except Bakr bin Qirwash, for Abu al-Tufayl 'Amir bin Wathilah, who is counted among the younger Companions, alone narrates from him.
Technical note / Defect ('illah): This indicates that Bakr bin Qirwash is one of the senior Followers, since his companionship is not established, and the narration of someone like Abu al-Tufayl from him strengthens his standing. Ibn Hibban mentioned him among the trustworthy Followers, and al-'Ijli likewise declared him trustworthy; al-Bukhari, however, said in his "Tarikh": "There is some doubt about him (fihi nazar)." See his biography in Ibn Hajar's "Ta'jil al-Manfa'ah" (99).

Reference / Source: The hadith is in "Musnad al-Humaydi" (74): he said: Sufyan narrated to us: al-'Ala' bin Abi al-'Abbas narrated to us that he heard Abu al-Tufayl narrating from Bakr bin Qirwash, from Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned Dhu al-Thudayyah and said: "The devil of the radhah …" etc. Sufyan said: 'Ammar al-Duhni told me that a man from among them (i.e. from Bajilah, 'Ammar's people) called al-Ashhab or Ibn al-Ashhab brought him.

Technical note / Defect ('illah): These words of 'Ammar, who is truthful and trustworthy, strengthen the report and show that it is one of the signs of prophethood, since it happened just as he (peace and blessings be upon him) foretold; and Allah the Exalted knows best.

Note / Clarification: This Dhu al-Thudayyah was one of the Khawarij of al-Nahrawan. See "Musnad Ahmad" (2/672) and "Sahih Muslim" (1066).

Reference / Source: Ahmad recorded the hadith in abridged form in his "Musnad" (3/1551) from Sufyan bin 'Uyaynah, with this chain. See the rest of its takhrij there.

Note / Clarification: Regarding "shaytan al-radhah", al-Zamakhshari said in "al-Fa'iq" (2/274): it is the snake, and "al-radhah" is a pool of water in a mountain.

Technical note / Defect ('illah): Al-Dhahabi objected to it in his "Talkhis", saying: "How far it is from authenticity, and how munkar it is!"