Azami 3276

Imam Ahmad narrated it (16398) from Abdul-Rahman, from Sufyan, from Saad bin Ibrahim, from Muhammad bin Abdul-Rahman bin Thawban, from a man of the Ansar among the companions of the Prophet ﷺ, and he related it. Its chain of transmission is sahih.This hadith is one in which Shubah differed from Sufyan. Shubah narrated it from Saad bin Ibrahim, who said, "I heard Muhammad bin Abdul-Rahman bin Thawban relating from a man of the Ansar, from a man among the companions of the Prophet ﷺ." So he added an extra man of the Ansar into the chain. This is how Ahmad (16397) and Abu Yaala (7132) reported it, both by way of Shubah.Sufyan and Shubah were both leading authorities of their era, but when they differ, the correct view is that of Sufyan, for he had the stronger memory of the two men. Yahya Qattan said, "There is no one dearer to me than Shubah, and no one equals him in my view, but when Sufyan differs with him, I take the view of Sufyan." Abu Dawud said, "Sufyan and Shubah never differed on anything but Sufyan came out on top. He differed with him in more than fifty hadiths, and the correct view is that of Sufyan."