I was unable to identify Abū al-Muʿallā. However, al-Dūlābī mentioned in al-Kunā (2/124), through the route of Ḥajjāj ibn Nuṣayr, who said: Abū al-Muʿallā Zayd ibn Abī Laylā al-Saʿdī narrated to us from al-Ḥasan, from Maʿqil ibn Yasār ... and he mentioned another incident. It is possible that he is the same person, but I was likewise unable to find any biographical entry for him.
Ibn Shāhīn also narrated, through the route of al-Qāsim, from Abū Umāmah, from ʿĀbis, a Companion of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and mentioned the six matters. Ibn Ḥajar indicated that the hadith is authentic in al-Ḥakam’s biographical entry in al-Iṣābah (1/346), and it deserves that judgment in light of the routes we have mentioned.
980 — “Do not single out the eve of Friday from among other nights for night prayer, nor single out Friday from among other days for fasting, unless it is part of a fast observed by one of you.”
Muslim recorded it (3/154) through the route of Ibn Sīrīn, from Abū Hurayrah, attributed to the Prophet. Al-Mundhirī also attributed it in al-Targhīb (2/87) to al-Nasāʾī, but I have not found it in his minor Sunan; perhaps it is in his major one. The second part of the hadith has also been narrated through other routes from Abū Hurayrah in similar wording; it is the hadith that follows this one, Allah willing.
The occasion for this hadith is what Ibn Saʿd narrated (4/85) with an authentic chain from Muḥammad ibn Sīrīn, who said: “Salman entered upon Abū al-Dardāʾ on a Friday, and he was told, ‘He is asleep.’ He said, ‘What is the matter with him?’ They replied, ‘Whenever the eve of Friday comes, he stays up in worship and fasts on Friday.’ So he instructed them to prepare food on that Friday. He then came to them and said, ‘Eat.’ He replied, ‘I am fasting.’ Salman persisted until he ate. Then the two of them went to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and told him about it. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘ʿUwaymir! Salman is more knowledgeable than you,’ while striking