(1) Its isnad is extremely weak; in fact, it is fabricated. Rawad b. al-Jarrah: al-Daraqutni declared him matruk (abandoned). Ibn ‘Adi said: “Most of what he transmits is not corroborated by others.” Abu Hatim, speaking specifically about this report, judged it munkar (denounced), unlike the narrations of reliable transmitters; he added that its origin, as he was told, was that a man recited it to Rawad, who liked it, copied it down, and later narrated it as though he had heard it himself. The author cited the hadith in his al-Mizan, Rawad’s entry, 2/55, through the chain: Rawad → Sufyan → Mansur → Rabi‘ → Hudhayfa. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi related it in his Tarikh, 6/198 and 11/225, via ‘Abbas al-Taraqafi → Rawad → Sufyan → Mansur → Rabi‘ → Hudhayfa. Al-Suyuti, in al-Jami‘ al-Saghir, attributed it to the Musnad of Abu Ya‘la. Ibn al-Jawzi quotes al-Daraqutni: “Rawad alone transmits it, and he is weak.” Al-Bukhari listed him among the weak narrators, noting that he became confused and that his reports are scarcely acceptable. Al-Hafiz al-‘Iraqi stated: “All its chains are weak.” Al-Zarkashi added: “It is not authentic; the fault lies with Rawad.” I therefore consider it most probable that this hadith was concocted by some ascetics whose brand of renunciation Islam does not approve. Their aim was to deter people from marriage, lighten its responsibilities, and promote seclusion—all of which contradict the Prophet’s guidance, clearly attested in the Quran and the sound sunnah. Some Companions once inclined toward perpetual celibacy, continual fasting, and uninterrupted night prayer. When the Prophet ﷺ learned of this, he said: “By Allah, I am the most God-fearing and pious among you, yet I fast and break the fast, pray and sleep, and marry women. Whoever turns away from my sunnah is not of me.” He also said ﷺ: “Marry loving, fertile women, for I will boast of your numbers before the nations on the Day of Resurrection.”