“I say: It meets Muslim’s criteria.” And it is as he said. In al-Majmaʿ (10/271–272), he said of the hadith: “Al-Ṭabarānī transmitted it in al-Kabīr and al-Awsaṭ. Its narrators are the narrators of the authentic collections, apart from Abū Ḍarīr al-Akbar, who is trustworthy.”

1190 — “When you come to your family, act wisely.”

Al-Khaṭīb transmitted it in Tārīkh Baghdād (12/295–296) through ʿAṭāʾ ibn Jablah, from Ibn Jurayj, from Abū al-Zubayr, from Jābir, who said: “I returned from a journey and came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said …” He then cited it. “When I came to my family, I said: ‘The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said …’” He then cited it. She replied, “Then go ahead.”

I say: This is a weak chain of transmission. Ibn Jurayj and Abū al-Zubayr both practised tadlīs and have related it using an ambiguous “from” formula. Ibn Maʿīn said of ʿAṭāʾ ibn Jablah: “He is worthless.” Abū Zurʿah al-Rāzī said: “His reports are rejected.” Abū Ḥātim said: “He is not strong.”

I say: However, the hadith is authentic, having come through other chains. Al-Shaʿbī narrated from Jābir that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him: “If you enter at night, do not go in to your family until the wife whose husband has been absent has removed her pubic hair, and the unkempt-haired woman has combed her hair.” He said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, also said: “When you enter, then be prudent—be prudent.” Aḥmad transmitted it (3/298), as did al-Bukhārī (9/298).

Al-Bukhārī, Muslim (4/176), al-Dārimī (2/146), and al-Bayhaqī (4/254) also transmitted it through this chain in a more complete form, with the wording: “When you arrive, then be prudent—be prudent.” It mentions that they had been on a military expedition. In a narration recorded by al-Bukhārī: “Be prudent—be prudent, O Jābir,” meaning, seek children. Al-Bukhārī said: “ʿUbayd Allāh corroborated him, from Wahb, from Jābir, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, regarding prudence.”

I say: Al-Bukhārī gave its connected chain in full in the Book of Sales (4/269), like the lengthy narration of al-Shaʿbī.