This chain of transmission consists of trustworthy narrators apart from this ʿUthmān. Ibn Abū Ḥātim included him (3/1/156), citing only Ibn Abū Dhiʾb’s narration from him; he mentioned neither any criticism nor accreditation of him, but stated that he was a Medinan client of Saʿīd ibn al-ʿĀṣ. Accordingly, this hadith is among Ibn ʿAyyāsh’s narrations from the people of Medina, which are weak, though they may serve as corroborating evidence.
- As for the narration of al-Ḥasan, Ibn al-Mubārak also said: “Ḥurayth ibn al-Sāʾib al-Asadī informed us; he said: Al-Ḥasan narrated it to us, attributing it to the Prophet, with the same wording.”
This is a mursal report, which is acceptable as corroborating evidence. Concerning this Ḥurayth, al-Ḥāfiẓ said: “Truthful, but makes mistakes.”
- As for the hadith of ʿAmr ibn Murrah, al-Suyūṭī said in al-Jāmiʿ al-Kabīr (1/3/1): “Hannād narrated it from him in mursal form.”
In sum, the hadith is authentic beyond doubt when considered together with all these routes. And Allah knows best.
687 — “Approach your wife as you wish; feed her when you eat, clothe her when you clothe yourself, and do not disparage her face or beat her.”
Recorded by Abū Dāwūd (1/334) and Aḥmad (5/3, 5), through Bahz ibn Ḥakīm, who narrated from his father, from his grandfather, who said: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what may we do with our wives, and what must we refrain from?’ He said ...” He then mentioned it.
I say: This is a good chain of transmission, in view of the well-known disagreement concerning Bahz ibn Ḥakīm, who is truthful, as