“…‘There is no harm in him.’ The same verdict is recorded in Ibn Ḥajar’s al-Taqrīb. Ibn Ḥajar also remains silent about the ḥadith in both al-Talkhīṣ ⦗4/8⦘ and al-Dirāyah ⦗119⦘, while Imām al-Nawawī states in al-Majmūʿ ⦗4/8⦘, ‘Its chain of transmission is ḥasan (good).’ Allah knows best.

“After writing what has preceded, I consulted Ibn Ḥazm’s al-Muḥallā and found that he says ⦗2/254⦘—after mentioning this ḥadith of Ibn ʿUmar—: ‘It is not authentic, because it is narrated by Abū Shuʿayb, or Shuʿayb, and we do not know who he is.’

“That said, if supper has been served and one’s appetite inclines toward it, he should begin with it even if that leads to delaying the prayer. The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘When supper is brought, start with it before the Maghrib prayer and do not hurry away from your meal.’⦗Agreed upon⦘

“The same ruling applies to every prayer. He ﷺ also said, ‘When the prayer is about to begin and supper is present, start with the supper,’ and he said, ‘There is no prayer when food is laid out.’⦗Muslim⦘

“Ibn ʿUmar would have food placed before him and the prayer would be established, yet he would not proceed to it until he had finished eating, even though he could hear the imam’s recitation.

“This is even more emphatically recommended for the fasting person, for the Prophet ﷺ said:”}