Abu Dawud said: This hadith was narrated by Sufyan al-Thawri, Ayyub, and Hammad, from Abu al-Zubayr, and they stopped it at Jabir (i.e., as his own statement, not the Prophet's).

This hadith has also been attributed to the Prophet with an isnad that is weak, via Ibn Abi Dhi'b, from Abu al-Zubayr, from Jabir, from the Prophet, peace be upon him.

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It was also recorded by al-Daraqutni (4714) and al-Bayhaqi 9/255 via the route of Abu Ahmad al-Zubayri, from Sufyan al-Thawri, from Abu al-Zubayr, from Jabir, raised to the Prophet likewise. Al-Daraqutni said: None raised it to the Prophet from al-Thawri except Abu Ahmad, and he was contradicted by Waki', the two 'Adanis, 'Abd al-Razzaq, Mu'ammal, Abu 'Asim, and others, who narrated it from al-Thawri as stopped (mawquf), and that is correct. Likewise, Ayyub al-Sakhtiyani, 'Ubayd Allah ibn 'Umar, Ibn Jurayj, Zuhayr, Hammad ibn Salama, and others narrated it from Abu al-Zubayr as stopped. We say: Al-Tabarani and al-Bayhaqi also declared Abu Ahmad mistaken in this.

It was recorded as stopped by Ibn Abi Shayba 5/379 via the route of Ayyub al-Sakhtiyani, and by al-Daraqutni (4717) and (4718), and al-Bayhaqi 9/255 via the route of 'Ubayd Allah ibn 'Umar, both from Abu al-Zubayr, from Jabir.

It was recorded as raised to the Prophet by al-Tahawi in "Sharh al-Mushkil" (4026) and (4027), and by al-Daraqutni (4713) via the route of 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Ubayd Allah, from Wahb ibn Kaysan — al-Tahawi added: and Nu'aym ibn 'Abd Allah — from Jabir. Al-Daraqutni said: 'Abd al-'Aziz alone narrated it from Wahb, and 'Abd al-'Aziz is weak and not relied upon. Abu Zur'a al-Razi said the same, as Ibn Abi Hatim reported from him in "al-'Ilal" 2/46 and 49. 'Abd al-Haqq al-Ishbili also declared him weak in "al-Ahkam al-Wusta" 4/124, and Ibn al-Qattan agreed with him in "Bayan al-Wahm wa al-Iham" 3/577.

Al-Khattabi said: It is established from more than one Companion that he permitted the floating fish (that died in water and floated). This is established from Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with them both.

This was the view adopted by 'Ata' ibn Abi Rabah, Mak-hul, and Ibrahim al-Nakha'i, and it was the position of Malik, al-Shafi'i, and Abu Thawr. It is narrated from Jabir and Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, that they disliked the floating fish, and this was the view adopted by Jabir ibn Zayd and Tawus, and it was the position of Abu Hanifa and his companions.

We say: Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Ishaq ibn Rahawayh also held that it is permissible, as Ishaq ibn Mansur al-Kawsaj reported from them both in his "Masa'il" (3026).