689 – Abu Ayyub al-Ansari said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, ‘Whoever separates a mother from her child, Allah will separate him from his loved ones on the Day of Resurrection.’” Ahmad related it; al-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim declared it sound, yet there is some discussion about its chain, and it has a corroborating report (1).

Degree of authenticity:
This hadith is ḥasan.
It was transmitted by Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi, al-Daraqutni, and al-Hakim. Al-Tirmidhi graded it ḥasan, while al-Hakim judged it ṣaḥīḥ. In its chain appears al-Muʿāfiri, about whom the scholars differ. Ahmad said, “His reports are munkar.” Al-Bukhari stated, “There is a reservation about him.” Al-Nasaʾi said, “He is not strong.” Ibn Maʿin held, “There is nothing wrong with him,” and Ibn ʿAdi remarked, “I hope there is no harm in him.” Ibn Ḥibbān listed him among the trustworthy narrators.

The hadith has two corroborating chains: one from ʿAli, whose transmitters are reliable; the other from Abu Musa, and its chain is acceptable.

Al-Shawkani said of the report from ʿAli: “Its transmitters are reliable,” as al-Ḥāfiẓ also affirmed; Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Ḥibbān, al-Hakim, and Ibn al-Qaṭṭān all declared it ṣaḥīḥ. As for the report of Abu Musa, its chain is acceptable.