This is a weak chain of transmission. However, it is strengthened by the fact that Ahmad narrated it (3/29) through Ibn Lahiʿah: Darraj narrated to us from Abu al-Haytham, from him, with similar wording. Muslim (8/154), al-Tirmidhi (4/341), al-Hakim (4/595), Ibn Hibban (2616), and Ahmad (2/328, 334, and 537) also narrated it through various routes from Abu Hurayrah, attributed to the Prophet, in abbreviated form. Ahmad (2/26) also narrated it, in abbreviated form, from the hadith of Abu Yahya al-Tawil, from Abu Yahya al-Qattat, from Mujahid, from Ibn ʿUmar, attributed to the Prophet.

I say: Both al-Tawil and al-Qattat are weak, but there is no problem with them in corroborating reports.

1602 — “Indeed, the womb is a branch clinging to the waist-wrapper of the Most Merciful: He maintains ties with whoever maintains them, and severs ties with whoever severs them.”

Ahmad (1/321) and Ibn Abi ʿAsim in al-Sunnah (no. 538—with my verification) narrated it from Ibn Jurayj, who said: Ziyad informed me that Salih, the freedman of al-Taw’amah, informed him that he heard Ibn ʿAbbas relate from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he mentioned it.

I say: This is a good chain of transmission. All of its narrators are trustworthy and are among the narrators of the two Shaykhs, apart from Salih, the freedman of al-Taw’amah, concerning whom there has been discussion. What may be concluded regarding him is the position held by Imam Ahmad and others: whoever heard from him early on is a reliable authority; otherwise, he is not. Ibn ʿAdi said: “There is no problem with him when the early narrators report from him, such as Ibn Abi Dhiʾb, Ibn Jurayj, and Ziyad ibn Saʿd. Whoever heard from him later, however, heard from him after he had become confused”—meaning, he is weak—“and I know of no objectionable hadith from him when a trustworthy narrator reports from him and had heard from him before his confusion.”

I say: As you see, this hadith is among Ziyad ibn Saʿd’s narrations from him. Thus, the hadith is good, Allah Most High willing.