Mikhnaf bin Sulaym narrates: We came to Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was feeding his horse; this was at a place called Sa'naba. We took our midday rest with him. We said to him: "O Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub, you fought the polytheists together with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and then you have come to fight the Muslims?" He said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered me to fight three kinds of people: those who break (the covenant or pledge of allegiance), those who deviate unjustly, and those who rebel (or revolt). So I have fought those who break (the covenant or pledge of allegiance), and I have fought those who deviate unjustly, and now, if Allah wills, I will fight those who rebel (or revolt) at al-Sa'afat, at al-Turuqat and at al-Nahrawanat, and I do not know where they are."
Al-Tabarani recorded it. Its chain contains the narrator Muhammad bin Kathir al-Kufi, who is da'if (weak).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب قتال أهل البغي / 10443
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«أخرجه المعجم الكبير للطبراني برقم: 4049»