I say: This chain is very weak; its flaw lies with al-Muʿalla ibn ʿIrfan. Ibn Maʿin said: “He is of no standing.” Al-Bukhari said: “His hadith is rejected,” and al-Nasaʾi said: “His hadith is abandoned.” Al-ʿUqayli then said:
“This is narrated through a chain other than this one, with wording different from this but conveying the same meaning, through a sound route.”
I say: He seems to be referring to the preceding route from Abu Hurayrah. It was also narrated by al-Haytham ibn Kulayb in al-Musnad (64/2), and by Abu Bakr al-Shafiʿi in al-Fawaʾid (10/100/2), through Musʿab ibn Saʿid, who said: “ʿIsa ibn Yunus informed us of it.” However, this Musʿab—al-Massisi—is weak.
It has another corroborating report, narrated by Shibl ibn al-ʿAlaʾ ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman, from Sumayy, the client of Abu Bakr ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman, from Abu Bakr ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn al-Harith, from Nawfal ibn Muʿawiyah, attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with the wording:
“He would drink in three breaths, mentioning the name of Allah at the beginning and praising Him at the end.”
It was recorded by Ibn al-Sunni (466) and also by al-Tabarani in al-Awsat. Al-Haythami said: “Shibl ibn al-ʿAlaʾ is weak.”
I say: Ibn ʿAdi said: “He narrated rejected hadiths.” Ibn Hibban listed him among the trustworthy narrators. Thus, there is no harm in using him for corroboration, and the hadith is authentic, Allah willing.
1278 — “He would pass by young boys, greet them, and supplicate for blessing for them.”
Ibn ʿAsakir narrated it (17/445/2) from al-Walid ibn Muhammad al-Muwaqqari, from al-Zuhri, from Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: He then mentioned it.
I say: Al-Muwaqqari is abandoned, as al-Hafiz said. However, the hadith is recorded by al-Bukhari (11/27—Fath), Muslim (7/5–6), al-Darimi (2/276), and others, through Thabit al-Bunani, from Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him: that he passed by some children and greeted them, saying: “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to do this.” Al-Hafiz said: