Ahmad narrated it in al-Musnad (4/106): Abu al-Mughirah related to us, saying: I heard al-Awza'i say: Rabi'ah ibn Yazid related to me, saying: I heard Wathilah ibn al-Asqa' say: “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came out to us and said...” He then mentioned it.

I say: This chain of transmission is authentic according to the criteria of the two Shaykhs, and is continuous through explicit statements of hearing. It is corroborated by a similar hadith of Salamah ibn Nufayl al-Sakuni, attributed to the Prophet. Al-Darimi (1/29) and Ahmad (4/104) narrated it through Artah ibn al-Mundhir, who said: Damrah ibn Habib related to us, who said: Salamah ibn Nufayl related it to us.

I say: This too is an authentic, continuous chain of transmission.

Afnādan means scattered groups, one people after another; its singular is fand.

852 — “Can you hear what I hear?” They said, “We do not hear anything.” He said, “Indeed, I hear the creaking of heaven, and it has every right to creak. There is not a space the width of a handspan in it except that upon it is an angel either prostrating or standing.”

Al-Tahawi narrated it in Mushkil al-Athar (2/43), and al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir (1/153/1), through Abd al-Wahhab ibn Ata, who said: Sa'id ibn Abi Arubah related to us, from Qatadah, from Safwan ibn Muhriz, from Hakim ibn Hizam, who said: “While the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was among his Companions, he said to them...” He then mentioned it.

I say: This chain of transmission is authentic according to the criteria of Muslim. There is some criticism concerning Ibn Ata, but it is not detrimental. It is corroborated by a hadith of Anas ibn Malik, attributed to the Prophet, with the wording: