Al-Ḥārith ibn ʿUmayr also corroborated both narrations in al-Bukhārī’s al-Adab al-Mufrad (1194) and in his al-Tārīkh al-Kabīr (2/1/389). A number of scholars included this Zuhayr among the Companions. Ibn Abī Ḥātim stated definitively, on his father’s authority, that his hadith was mursal; Ibn Ḥibbān likewise listed him among the trustworthy Successors.

I say: In either case, the hadith is authentic and has a continuous chain of transmission, and the anonymity of a Companion causes no harm.

The first part of it is corroborated by the hadith of ʿAlī ibn Shaybān, to the same effect. Al-Bukhārī recorded it in al-Adab al-Mufrad (1192), and Abū Dāwūd (5041), through the chain of ʿUmar ibn Jābir al-Juʿfī, from Waʿlah ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Waththāb, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAlī ibn Shaybān, from his father, with this wording. This chain is acceptable as supporting evidence: ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAlī is trustworthy, while the narrators below him are classed as acceptable by al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar.

It has another corroborating report from the hadith of Ibn ʿAbbās, attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Ibn ʿAdī recorded it in al-Kāmil (fols. 82/2, 83/2). Its chain, however, is very weak, for it includes al-Ḥasan ibn ʿUmārah, who is abandoned.

Similar in meaning is what ʿAbd al-Jabbār ibn ʿUmar narrated from Muḥammad ibn al-Munkadir, from Jābir, who said: “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade sleeping on a roof that has no protective parapet.”

Al-Tirmidhī recorded it (2/139) and said: “This is a singular hadith. We know no narration of it from Muḥammad ibn al-Munkadir, from Jābir, except through this route; and ʿAbd al-Jabbār ibn ʿUmar is deemed weak.”