Al-Tabarani also narrated it in Mukhtasar Makarim al-Akhlaq (1/120/1).

I say: The narrators of this chain are trustworthy and are among Muslim’s narrators, apart from the unnamed man. Some narrators omitted him. Thus Ahmad narrated it (2/387): Bahz related to us; Hammad ibn Salamah related to us from Abu Imran, from Abu Hurayrah: “A man complained …”—the hadith—without the words, “If you wish to soften your heart.”

I say: This chain appears to be authentic, but the first chain contains a hidden defect and shows that there is an unnamed man between Abu Imran and Abu Hurayrah. It seems that al-Haythami was unaware of the first chain, for he cited it with the wording of the other chain and said (8/160): “Ahmad narrated it, and its narrators are those of the Sahih!”

Al-Manari understood from this that he meant the chain to be authentic, and so he said: “Ahmad narrated it with a chain which al-Haythami—following his teacher Zayn al-Iraqi—declared authentic …” He then cited it with the second wording.

I say: This understanding is incorrect, because his statement, “Its narrators are those of the Sahih,” means no more than that one of the conditions of authenticity is met: namely, that the narrators are trustworthy and are among the narrators of the Sahih. It does not rule out the absence of a disqualifying hidden defect, such as a break in the chain. So take note.

However, the hadith has a corroborating report which may elevate it to the rank of good. Al-Tabarani narrated in al-Kabir from Abu al-Darda, who said: “A man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, complaining of the hardness of his heart. He said, ‘Would you like your heart to soften and to attain your need? Show mercy to the orphan, stroke his head, and feed him from your food; your heart will soften and you will attain your need.’” Al-Haythami said after it: