Nasai

1788. Commentary: Habib narrated this report as marfu‘ (attributed to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), whereas Sufyan narrated it as mawquf (a statement of a Companion). The other Sufyan narrates this report with uncertainty, and in all manuscripts of Sunan al-Nasa’i it is “from Abu Dharr and Abu al-Darda’.” This is a scribal error in the chain; the correct version is with “or” instead of “and,” i.e., with uncertainty, as is found in al-Sunan al-Kubra of al-Nasa’i: (1/457). In al-Sunan al-Kubra, both Sufyan al-Thawri and Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah are present, so it is as if both are participants in the aforementioned discrepancies regarding Habib ibn Abi Thabit. For details, see: (Dhakheerat al-‘Uqba Sharh Sunan al-Nasa’i: 18/171, 172). This clarification pertains to the differences in the chain of narration. As for the authenticity of the hadith, there is no doubt that the text of the hadith is a valid proof. According to the research of Shaykh al-Albani rahimahullah, this narration is more authentic as mawquf, but since there is no room for the narrator’s ijtihad or personal opinion in it, it is, in ruling, considered marfu‘. Moreover, supporting reports are also found for it. For details, see: (Irwa’ al-Ghalil al-Albani, hadith number: 454).