“Its chain of transmission is authentic.” Al-Dhahabi agreed with him.

I say: It is as they both said, were it not that al-Hafiz said of Humayd ibn al-Aswad: “He makes occasional errors.” A variant chain has been narrated: Ibn Abi Fudayk narrated it from al-Dahhak ibn ʿUthman, from al-Maqburi, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: “Safwan ibn al-Muʿattal asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saying: ...” He then mentioned the hadith. Thus, he attributed it to Abu Hurayrah rather than to Safwan.

It was recorded by Ibn Majah (1252) and Ibn Hibban (619). Supporting this version is the fact that Ibn Hibban also recorded it (618) through Ibn Wahb, from ʿIyad ibn ʿAbd Allah al-Qurashi, from Saʿid ibn Abi Saʿid, from Abu Hurayrah, with similar wording. This chain meets Muslim’s criteria, though this ʿIyad has some mild weakness, as al-Hafiz stated; nevertheless, there is no problem with him in corroborating narrations. Taken together, the two chains render the hadith authentic.

In al-Zawaʾid (folio 98/1, library photocopy), al-Busiri graded Ibn Abi Fudayk’s chain good, and attributed it to Ibn Khuzaymah in his Sahih through Ibn Wahb. Note that his statement, “Then refrain from prayer until the sun sets,” is like the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him: “There is no prayer after the afternoon prayer until the sun sets.” Both are general expressions subject to specification, as established by the explicit hadiths of Anas and ʿAli on this matter; see nos. 200 and 314.

1372 — “When evil becomes manifest on earth, Allah, exalted is He, sends down His punishment upon the people of the earth. Even if righteous people are among them, they will be afflicted by what afflicts the people; then they will return to Allah’s mercy.”

Al-Bayhaqi recorded it in Shuʿab al-Iman (2/441/2) through Sufyan ibn ʿUyaynah, from Jamiʿ ibn Abi Rashid, from Mundhir al-Thawri, from al-Hasan ibn Muhammad, from Aishah, attributed to the Prophet.