Al-Haythamī remarked: “The transmitters in the chains of Aḥmad, Abū Yaʿlā, and al-Bazzār are the narrators relied upon in the two Ṣaḥīḥs, except for ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAqīl. His reports are ḥasan, though scholars have spoken about him.”

I add: This narration is also found in al-Ḥākim and Aḥmad through the route of Zuhayr ibn Muḥammad, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAqīl, from Muḥammad ibn Jubayr ibn Muṭʿim, from his father, but without the mention of mosques. Al-Ḥākim said, “Its chain is sound. It was likewise transmitted by Qays ibn al-Rabīʿ and ʿAmr ibn Thābit ibn Abī al-Miqdām from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAqīl.” Al-Dhahabī commented, “I say: Zuhayr is known for objectionable reports, and this is one of them, while Ibn ʿAqīl is somewhat weak.”

I reply: Even so, his ḥadith does not drop below the level of ḥasan, especially when it is corroborated. Moreover, Zuhayr ibn Muḥammad was not the sole transmitter, as al-Ḥākim himself confirmed, so the responsibility is lifted from him. ⦗1⦘

There is also a similar report from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr. Al-Mundhirī said, “It was recorded by al-Ṭabarānī in al-Kabīr and by Ibn Ḥibbān in his Ṣaḥīḥ.” Al-Haythamī added, “Al-Ṭabarānī narrated it in al-Kabīr. The chain contains ʿAṭāʾ ibn al-Sāʾib—he is trustworthy, although he became confused toward the end of his life—and the remaining narrators are reliable.”