Indeed, the hadith is authentic through corroborating evidence, for it has supporting reports in the two Sahih collections and elsewhere; these may be found in al-Targhib (1/125).
Note: Al-Suyuti included it in al-Jami‘ al-Saghir, citing al-Tabarani, al-Hakim, and al-Bayhaqi in al-Shu‘ab, with an addition at its end: “If people knew what is in the night and dawn prayers, they would come to them even crawling.” In al-Jami‘ al-Kabir (1/49/1), he attributed it to the same authorities, except for al-Hakim. Yet this addition is not found in al-Tabarani; perhaps it is found in al-Bayhaqi. It is firmly established in another hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah and recorded by the two Sahih collections and others. What I most fear is that al-Suyuti’s attention fell upon it while writing out this hadith, so he appended it, mistakenly supposing that it belonged to it. And Allah knows best.
- “When one of your servants brings him his food, let him seat him and eat with him. If he refuses, then let him give him some of it.”
It was recorded by al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad (31), al-Darimi (2/107), Ibn Majah (2/308), and Ahmad (2/473), from Isma‘il ibn Abi Khalid, from his father, who said: I heard Abu Hurayrah relate it, attributing it to the Prophet. Its narrators are reliable, apart from Abu Khalid, who is considered acceptable, as stated in al-Taqrib. Al-Tirmidhi also recorded it from him and declared it authentic, with wording beginning, “When he has spared ...” It will be cited below in a version narrated from him:
“When the one who has prepared your food brings it to you, having spared you the labour of its heat and smoke, invite him to eat with you; otherwise, place a morsel in his hand.”
Ahmad narrated it (2/316): ‘Abd al-Razzaq ibn Hammam narrated to us; Ma‘mar narrated to us, from Hammam ibn Munabbih, who said: This is what Abu Hurayrah related to us, attributing it to the Prophet.
I say: He then mentioned many hadiths through this chain of transmission, of which this is one. It is authentic according to the criteria of the six canonical hadith compilers. A similar report through another route from Abu Hurayrah has preceded (1285).
- “Shall I not tell you who are the best among you? The best among you are those who live longest and do the best deeds.”
It was recorded by ‘Abd ibn Humayd in al-Muntakhab min al-Musnad (140/2): ‘Uthman informed us