The first clause has more than one corroborating report, whose documentation appears in Irwa’ al-Ghalil. The other clause likewise has corroborating reports, as mentioned shortly before. Thus, taken together, the hadith is authentic. All praise is due to Allah for His enabling grace.
- “There is no place in the lowest heaven for a foot to stand except that an angel upon it is either prostrating or standing. This is what the angels say: ‘There is none among us but has a known station; indeed, we are those who stand in rows; and indeed, we are those who glorify Allah.’”
Ibn Nasr narrated it in al-Salah (44/1) from Abu Mu‘adh al-Fadl ibn Khalid al-Nahwi, who said: ‘Ubayd ibn Sulayman al-Bahili narrated to us: I heard al-Dahhak ibn Muzahim narrate from Masruq ibn al-Ajda‘, from ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said”—and he then cited it.
I say: This is a good chain of transmission for corroborative purposes. Its narrators are reliable, apart from this al-Fadl. Ibn Abi Hatim included his biography (3/2/61), based on reports from two reliable narrators from him, but mentioned neither narrator criticism nor accreditation concerning him.
He then narrated, through Muslim ibn Subayh, from Abu al-Duha, from Masruq, from ‘Abd Allah ibn Mas‘ud, may Allah be pleased with him, who cited it from him as a Companion report in abbreviated form. It has the ruling of a report attributed to the Prophet, and its chain of transmission is authentic.
- “Do you hear what I hear?” They replied, “We do not hear anything.” He said: “Indeed, I hear the creaking of the heaven, and it is not to be blamed for creaking. There is not a handspan within it except that an angel upon it is either prostrating or standing.”
Ibn Nasr narrated it in al-Salah (43/2) from Safwan ibn Muhriz, from Hakim ibn Hizam, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: “While the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was with his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, he said to them ...”—and he then cited it.
I say: This is an authentic chain of transmission; all its narrators are reliable.