I say: Musa ibn Uqbah was earlier than both of them: he died in 141 AH, whereas Ibn Jurayj died in 150 AH or later, and Ibn Abi Dhi’b died in 158 AH. Thus, the chain of transmission is good, Allah willing. The hadith is authentic, since it has a corroborating report from Laqit ibn Sabirah, attributed to the Prophet, with the wording: “When you perform ablution, pass water between your fingers.” Ibn Hibban, al-Hakim, and others authenticated it. I have also included it in Sahih Abi Dawud (130).
- “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of the Fire are closed, and the devils are fettered.”
It was recorded by Muslim (3/121), al-Nasa’i (1/298 and 299), and Ahmad (2/257 and 378), through Abu Suhayl, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said this. However, al-Nasa’i said, “enters” in place of “comes.” Yet, in another narration recorded by him, through Ibn Abi Anas, the client of the Taymiyyin, whose father narrated to him that he heard Abu Hurayrah say: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said this with the wording: “When Ramadan comes, the gates of mercy are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained.”
Through this route, it was also recorded by al-Bukhari (1/474 and 2/321) and Ahmad (2/281 and 401). Ahmad and al-Bukhari said, “enters,” instead of “comes,” while Muslim said, “When it is ...” Al-Bukhari said, “the gates of heaven,” in place of “the gates of Paradise.” Al-Darimi likewise recorded it (2/26), but said: “When [Ramadan] comes ... and the devils are fettered.”
- “When Ramadan comes, fast for thirty days, unless you see the crescent before then.”
It was recorded by al-Tahawi in Mushkil al-Athar (1/210) and Ahmad (4/377).