As‐Saheehah (no. 2833) of Shaikh al‐Albaanee (rahimahullaah):

‘The Banoo Israa’eel appointed a leader  (Khaleefah) to be in charge of them after Moosaa (alayhis-salaam.) So he stood praying above Jerusalem, in the moonlight. So he remembered some things which he had done, and he departed, and he let himself down with a rope. So in the morning the rope was hanging from the mosque, and he had gone. He said: So he went off until he came to a people on the coast. So he found them striking bricks, or making bricks. So he asked them: ‘What do you take for these bricks?’ He said: So they informed him, so he made bricks along with them. So he used to eat from the wages he earned with his hand, and when it was time for Prayer he would stand and pray.

So the workers informed the chief of their town that amongst us there is a man who does such and such. So he sent a message to him, but he refused to go to him. This happened three times. Then he came riding upon his riding-beast. So when he saw him he fled, so he followed him and overtook him. He said: ”Let me speak to you.” He said: So he stood until he spoke to him, and he informed him of his story. So when he informed him that he was a king, and that he had fled from fear and awe of his Lord, he said: ”I think that I will join you.” He said; So he followed him,and the two of then worshipped Allaah until they died at the Rumaylah of Egypt.

Abdullaah said: ‘If I were there I would be able to find their graves, because of the description which Allaah’s Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) gave to us.

Reported by al-Bazzaar in his Musnad (4/267/3869), by way of `Amr ibn Abee Qays: from Simaak- meaning Ibn Harb: from al-Qaasim ibn `Abdir-Rahmaan: from his father: from `Abdullaah ibn Mas`ood: from the Prophet; and he said: ”We do not know anyone to have reported it from Simaak: from al-Qaasim except for `Amr; and al-Mas`oodee reported it from Simaak: from `Abdur-Rahmaan: from his father, and he did not mention al-Qaasim.”

I say: The narration of al-Mas`oodee was reported by Ahmad (1/451) and Aboo Ya`laa (9/261/5383), by way of Yazeed ibn Haaroon: al-Mas`oodee related to us: from Simaak ibn Harb: from `Abdur-Rahmaan ibn `Abdillaah: from Ibn Mas`ood who said:…, and he mentioned it.

And the two of them are supported by Qays ibn ar-Rabee`: from Simaak ibn Harb-with it, and he also did not mention al-Qaasim in its chain. This was reported by at-Tabaraanee in al-Mu`jamul-Kabeer (10/216/10370), and in al-Awsat also (2/112/1/6743), and he said:

‘No one reports it from Simaak except Qays ibn ar-Rabee’!

That is what he said! However al-Mas`oodee supported his narration, as did `Amr ibn Abee Qays-as has preceded; and even though he differed with them by mentioning al-Qaasim ibn `Abdir-Rahmaan in the chain; and their narration is more correct, even though they each had something regarding their memorization, however each one strengthens the other; and `Amr ibn Abee Qays-and he is ar-Raazee was truthful (sadooq), but made mistakes-as occurs in ‘at-Taqreeb’. So if he correctly preserved it, then it is possible to say that Simaak heard it from al-Qaasim from his father, then he heard it from his father directly; and perhaps what al-Haythumee did indicates this, as he said (10/219):

‘Reported by al-Bazzaar, and by at-Tabaraanee iin ‘al-Awsat’ and in ‘al-Kabeer’, and its chain is ‘hasan’.’

I say: So he combined the narrations of al-Bazzaar and at-Tabaraanee, despite their differing concerning their narration from Simaak. So it is as if he is indicating that there is no difference which will cause any harm between them.

And before this he brought the narration of Ahmad and Aboo Ya’laa, and he said after it: ‘And their chain contains al-Mas’oodee, and his memory deteriorated.’

And as-Suyootee fell short in ‘al-Jaami’ul-Kabeer’ (no. 6404) when he attributed it to ‘al-Mu`jamul-Kabeer’ alone!!’

The wording of the narration of Ahmad (1/451/4312) is:

‘Whilst a man from those who came before you was in his kingdom he reflected, and he knew that it was going to come to an end for him, and that his situation was preoccupying him away from the worship of his Lord. So he crept away one night and escaped from his castle, and he came to the coast, and he used to make bricks for wages. So he would eat, and he would give what remained in charity…..’ and: ‘… so the two of them worshipped Allaah-the Mighty and Majestic-together. So they supplicated to Allaah to cause them to die together. He said: So they died.’

‘Abdullaah said: ‘If I were at the Rumaylah of Egypt I could show you their graves, based upon the description given to us by Allaah’s Messenger).’

Translated by Ustaadh Abu Talhah Dawood Burbank (may Allaah have mercy upon him and his wife).

This narration was sent to us by brother Haroon Al-Banghaali (may Allaah reward him)