46 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said, “There is no (valid) ablution for the one who does not mention the name of Allah over it.” It was recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah with a weak chain of transmission (1).

Al-Tirmidhi also related a similar wording from Saʿid ibn Zayd (2) and from Abu Saʿid (3), and Ahmad remarked, “Nothing concerning this matter is firmly established.”

Status of the hadith
The hadith is weak, yet it possesses supporting lines of transmission that lend it added strength.

Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar wrote in at-Talkhis: “Ahmad said, ‘Nothing in this chapter is reliably established; everything transmitted on the subject is not strong.’”

Al-‘Uqayli stated, “The chains of transmission in this chapter are soft.”

When Ahmad was asked about pronouncing the basmalah, he answered, “I do not know any authentic hadith on the matter.”

Abu Hatim and Abu Zur‘ah likewise declared, “The hadith is not authentic.”

Ibn Hajar then concluded, “Apparently, the collective weight of the reports produces a degree of strength indicating that the practice has a foundation.”

Al-Shawkani added, “There is no doubt that the combined chains are sufficient for citing the hadith as evidence, and Ibn al-Salah and Ibn Kathir graded it sound.”