“We used to perform incantations in the pre-Islamic era, so we asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is your view concerning that?’ He replied,” and then mentioned the foregoing. Abdullah ibn Salih corroborated him, saying: “Mu'awiyah narrated it to me with the same wording.”
Al-Bukhari recorded it in al-Tarikh al-Kabir (4/1/56).
- “Choose carefully for your progeny: marry compatible spouses, and give your women in marriage to them.”
Ibn Majah recorded it (1/706), as did Ibn Adi in al-Kamil (64/1), al-Daraqutni (416), al-Hakim (2/163), and al-Khatib (1/264), through al-Harith ibn Imran al-Ja'fari, from Hisham ibn Urwah, from his father, from Aishah, attributed to the Prophet. Al-Hakim then narrated it through Ikrimah ibn Ibrahim, from Hisham ibn Urwah, with the same wording, and said: “Its chain of transmission is authentic.”
Al-Dhahabi critiqued this, saying: “I say: Al-Harith is accused, and they declared Ikrimah weak.”
I say: Ibn Abi Hatim mentioned it through the first route in al-Ilal (1/403 and 404) and said: “My father said: ‘This hadith has no basis. Mandal also narrated it.’” He then said: “My father said: ‘Al-Harith is weak in hadith, and this is a rejected hadith.’”
I say: Al-Khatib cited it through other routes from Hisham, with the same wording, and then said: “All of its routes are extremely weak. Abu al-Miqdam Hisham ibn Ziyad narrated it from Hisham ibn Urwah, from his father, as a mursal report from the Prophet, and this is closer to what is correct.”
Al-Hafiz said in al-Talkhis (3/146): “Its transmission revolves around weak men who narrated it from Hisham. The best of them are Salih ibn Musa al-Talhi and al-Harith ibn Imran al-Ja'fari; nevertheless, it is good.”
He said in al-Fath (9/102): “Abu Nu'aym also transmitted it in the hadith of Umar, though its chain is subject to criticism; one chain gains strength from the other.”
The hadith was also narrated with a rejected addition, for which reason I included it in al-Da'ifah (5041).