But the hadith has another chain by which it is strengthened: Qabīṣah ibn ʿUqbah narrated to us from al-Layth ibn Saʿd, from ʿUqayl, from Ibn Shihāb, from Anas ibn Mālik, with this wording. It was recorded by Abū Nuʿaym in al-Ḥilyah (9/250) and by al-Ḥākim (1/445), through the route of Muḥammad ibn Aslam al-ʿĀbid, who narrated to us from Qabīṣah ibn ʿUqbah. Al-Ḥākim said: “Authentic according to the criteria of the two Shaykhs.” Al-Dhahabī concurred with him.

I say: Neither of the two Shaykhs narrated from Muḥammad ibn Aslam. However, al-Ḥākim also has a corroborating narration from Ruwaym ibn Yazīd, who is trustworthy, as al-Khaṭīb stated (8/429). Muḥammad ibn Aslam is likewise trustworthy, for Abū Ḥātim and Abū Zurʿah declared him trustworthy, as stated in al-Jarḥ wa-al-Taʿdīl (3/2/201). Thus, the chain is authentic, even though some considered it defective on the grounds that it was mursal—i.e., missing the Companion link. Ibn Abī Ḥātim said in al-ʿIlal (2/254):

“I heard Aḥmad ibn Salamah al-Naysābūrī say: ‘I discussed with Abū Zurʿah a hadith that Qabīṣah ibn ʿUqbah narrated from al-Layth, from ʿUqayl, from al-Zuhrī, from Anas, who said …’—and he mentioned it. He said: ‘I know it through the narration of Ruwaym ibn Yazīd from al-Layth in this manner. So who narrated it from Qabīṣah?’ I replied: ‘Muḥammad ibn Aslam narrated it to me from Qabīṣah in this manner.’ He said: ‘Muḥammad ibn Aslam is trustworthy.’ I then discussed it with Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj, and he said: ‘ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Shuʿayb brought out for me the book of his grandfather, and I saw in al-Layth’s book what Qutaybah had narrated.’ Abū al-Faḍl said: ‘Qutaybah narrated to us from ʿUqayl, from al-Zuhrī, who said: The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “Travel by night.”’ And he cited the rest of the hadith.”

I say: Muslim therefore considered it defective due to its being mursal, and al-Dāraquṭnī concurred, saying: “The preserved version from al-Layth is mursal.” Al-Khaṭīb narrated this from him. Yet the agreement of Qabīṣah and Ruwaym in relating it from al-Layth with an uninterrupted chain does not leave us satisfied with this assessment of defect, for both are trustworthy, and an addition made by a trustworthy narrator is accepted. And Allah Most High knows best,