I say: This is a good chain of transmission; its narrators are trustworthy. There is some criticism concerning ʿAsim, but it does not lower his hadith beneath the rank of good. The same applies to Musa ibn Khalaf, whose kunyah was Abu Khalid al-Basri. Al-Hafiz said: “Truthful and devout, though prone to errors.”

As for Abu Salih, he was Dhakwan al-Samman al-Zayyat. In the past, I had mistakenly thought that he was Abu Salih Badhan, the client of Umm Hani. For that reason, I included this hadith in Weak al-Jamiʿ al-Saghir, no. 3234. Whoever possesses a copy should take note of this and transfer it to Authentic al-Jamiʿ, if he has it. “Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake.”

Al-Mundhiri said (2/245): “Ahmad narrated it with a good chain of transmission, as did al-Nasaʾi, except that he did not include the words, ‘And no deed will be raised ...’ to the end. Al-Bayhaqi narrated it in full. Ibn Abi al-Dunya also narrated it, but assigned the reward of freeing slaves to praising Allah, and that of one hundred horses to glorifying Him. He said: ‘And declare Allah’s oneness one hundred times; it leaves no sin [unforgiven], and no deed can surpass it.’ Ibn Majah narrated it in abbreviated form. Al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Kabir, in a version similar to Ahmad’s, but without saying, ‘I think he said.’

“He also narrated it in al-Awsat with a good chain of transmission, except that it states: ‘She said: I said, “Messenger of Allah, I have grown old and my bones have become frail, so direct me to a deed that will admit me into Paradise.” He said: “Well done, well done! You have asked ...” And he said: “Say: ‘There is no god worthy of worship but Allah’ one hundred times, for it is better for you than all that heaven and earth encompass. On that day, no deed superior to yours will be raised, except by one who says what you have said, or more.”’

Al-Hakim narrated it in a version similar to Ahmad’s and said: “Its chain of transmission is authentic.” He added: “And say, ‘There is no power nor might except through Allah’ (1); it leaves no sin [unforgiven], and no deed is comparable to it.”

Al-Haythami said in al-Majmaʿ (10/92), following Ahmad’s narration: “Ahmad and al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Kabir, without saying, ‘I think he said.’ He also narrated it in al-Awsat, except that it states: ‘I said: Messenger of Allah ...’ Their chains of transmission are good.”