It was recorded by Ibn Mājah 238 and by Aḥmad (1/388–389, 410) along three separate routes, all of them through ʿAṭāʾ ibn al-Sāʾib, from Shaqīq ibn Salamah, from him. The transmitters are those relied upon by al-Bukhārī, although ʿAṭāʾ’s memory deteriorated in his later years.

Al-Tirmidhī said, “Most scholars consider it disliked to sleep before the ʿIshāʾ prayer or to converse after it, though some allowed it. ʿAbd-Allah ibn al-Mubārak remarked, ‘Most of the reports convey disapproval.’”

When all the traditions on this subject are taken together, they show that late-night conversation and staying up are discouraged unless they bring benefit to the speaker or to the Muslim community. Among the relevant reports are the following:

(1) From ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (may Allah be pleased with him):
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to stay up with Abū Bakr discussing matters that concerned the Muslims, and I was with them.”

Al-Tirmidhī (1/315), Ibn Naṣr 46, and al-Ṭaḥāwī 391 transmitted it through Abū Muʿāwiyah, from al-Aʿmash, from Ibrāhīm, from ʿAlqamah, from ʿUmar. This isnād is sound according to the criteria of the two Shaykhs, although al-Tirmidhī graded it merely ḥasan—a shortcoming noted by the commentator.

Aḥmad (1/25–26) also reported the ḥadīth with two chains from ʿUmar: “Abū Muʿāwiyah narrated to us: al-Aʿmash narrated to us from Ibrāhīm, from ʿAlqamah, who said, ‘A man came to ʿUmar while he was at ʿArafah…’ Abū Muʿāwiyah added, ‘And al-Aʿmash narrated to us from Khaythamah, from Qays ibn Marwān…’” He then related the report at length.

Thus al-Aʿmash transmits the ḥadīth with two separate chains, the first of which is sound, as noted above; likewise