Hurayrah in similar terms, without tracing it back to the Prophet, and added: “Even if he is his full brother.” He then gave his chain to Hammād ibn Zayd, from Ayyūb, with that wording. I say: Sufyān, Ibn ʿAwn, and al-Hadhdhā’ narrated it from Ibn Sīrīn with attribution to the Prophet, as you have seen. They are trustworthy and supply the additional attribution, so their version takes precedence.

The hadith also has supporting evidence in a report from ʿĀ’ishah—may Allah be pleased with her—traced back to the Prophet, with the wording: “Whoever points an iron weapon at a Muslim intending to kill him, his blood is thereby forfeit.” Ahmad (6/266) narrated it through ʿAlqamah, from his mother, in a story she related, in which ʿĀ’ishah spoke these words. The narrators in this chain are trustworthy except for ʿAlqamah’s mother, who is unknown.

447—(He (peace be upon him) said: “It is not lawful for a Muslim to frighten another Muslim.” Abū Dāwūd and al-Tabarānī; its narrators are trustworthy.) p. 316.

Sound. Abū Dāwūd (5004) and Ahmad (5/362) narrated it through al-Aʿmash, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Yasār, from ʿAbd al-Rahmān ibn Abī Laylā, who said: The Companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) related to us that they were traveling with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). One of them fell asleep, and some of the others went over to a rope he had and took it, causing him to become frightened. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) then stated the aforementioned words.

I say: This chain is sound and its narrators are trustworthy. The fact that the Companions are unnamed does not impair it. It was also narrated in corroboration by Fitr ibn Khalīfah, from ʿAbd al-Rahmān ibn Yasār al-Juhanī, from Abū Laylā al-Ansārī, who said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) set out on one of his military expeditions…”—and the remainder of the same hadith. Al-Tahāwī narrated it in al-Mushkil (2/244). In that work, “ʿAbd al-Rahmān” appears in place of “ʿAbd Allāh,” and “Abū Laylā” in place of “Ibn Abī Laylā.” I believe this to be a copyist’s error, for the manuscript from which the printed edition was produced is extremely defective, as anyone who has studied or consulted it knows.