The narration of Abu Dawud from Shu'bah is more authentic in my view than the narration of An-Nadr. This is how it was reported bymore than one narrator from Mansur, from Ribi, from 'Ali. Al-Jarud narrated to us, he said:
'I heard Waki' saying: 'It has been conveyed to me that Rabi' bin Hirash did not utter even one lie in Islam (i.e., after he professed Islam).'"
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ شُمَيْلٍ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، نَحْوَهُ إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ رِبْعِيٌّ عَنْ رَجُلٍ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي دَاوُدَ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عِنْدِي أَصَحُّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ النَّضْرِ وَهَكَذَا رَوَى غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ رِبْعِيٍّ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ . حَدَّثَنَا الْجَارُودُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ وَكِيعًا يَقُولُ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ رِبْعِيًّا لَمْ يَكْذِبْ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ كِذْبَةً .
