Muslim. Al-Ḥāfiẓ said in al-Tahdhīb, after citing it in al-Ḥasan’s biography:

“This is a chain of transmission in which none of the narrators is open to criticism, and it supports the conclusion that he heard from Abū Hurayrah to some extent. His case in this regard is exactly like his case with Samurah.”

I say: He means that what has been established from the scholars’ disagreement regarding al-Ḥasan’s hearing from Samurah is that he heard only a small number of reports from him. Likewise, his hearing from Abū Hurayrah is established, but it was also limited, as indicated by this hadith. And Allah knows best.

In sum, this is an authentic chain with a continuous chain of transmission. Therefore, al-Nasāʾī’s objection on the grounds of a break in the chain should not be considered, since it necessarily entails one of two things: either declaring al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī a liar regarding the statement cited above, or deeming one of the narrators who transmitted it from him to have erred. Neither is tenable. The first is plainly untenable; as for the second, trustworthy narrators cannot be deemed mistaken without proof or evidence. This is perfectly clear.

Moreover, the hadith has supporting reports. The first is from Anas ibn Mālik, traced back to the Prophet, with similar wording. It was narrated by al-Mukhalliṣ in al-ʿĀshir min Ḥadīthihi (214/2), through Abū Suḥaym, who said: “ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Ṣuhayb narrated to us,” from him. This is a very weak chain. Abū Suḥaym—whose name was al-Mubārak ibn Suḥaym—was described by al-Ḥāfiẓ in al-Taqrīb as “abandoned.”

The second is from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd, who related that the Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, said it. However, it says, “women who display their adornment openly,” in place of “women who wrench themselves free from marriage.” It was narrated by Abū Nuʿaym in al-Ḥilyah (8/376) and al-Khaṭīb in al-Tārīkh (3/358), through Muḥammad ibn Hārūn al-Ḥaḍramī, who said: “Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī ibn al-Aswad al-ʿIjlī narrated to us; Wakīʿ narrated to us.”