Ahmad narrated it (3/12 and 44) through two chains from him. I have discussed both of them in al-Taʿlīq ʿalā al-Targhīb (2/94). Taken together, therefore, the hadith is good. This is what al-Munāwī related from al-Suyūṭī. And Allah knows best.

1655 — “Indeed, Allah does not love filial disobedience,” as though he disliked the term.

It was narrated by Abū Dāwūd (2842), al-Nasāʾī (2/188), al-Ḥākim (4/238), al-Bayhaqī (9/300), and Aḥmad (2/182 and 194), through Dāwūd ibn Qays, from ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb, from his father, from his grandfather, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about the ʿaqīqah sacrifice, and he said: “Indeed, Allah does not love filial disobedience,” as though he disliked the term. They said: “O Messenger of Allah, we are asking about one of us who has a child born to him.” He said: “Whoever among you wishes to offer a sacrifice for his child, let him do so: two matching sheep for a boy, and one sheep for a girl.” This is the wording of Aḥmad, and the wording of the others is similar. Al-Ḥākim’s wording is: “I do not love filial disobedience.” It is also a narration of Aḥmad’s. Al-Ḥākim said: “Its chain of transmission is authentic,” and al-Dhahabī concurred with him.

However, it is only good, owing to the well-known disagreement concerning ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb. Yet it has a supporting report narrated by Mālik (2/500/1), from Zayd ibn Aslam, from a man of Banū Ḍamrah, from his father, who related it with al-Ḥākim’s wording.

I say: This is a satisfactory supporting report. The Ḍamrī man, one of Zayd ibn Aslam’s shaykhs, apparently was a Successor, if not a Companion. Since Zayd himself was among the trustworthy Successors, the hadith is authentic through this route.

“Matching” means equal in age. It has also been said that it means alike or close in age. Al-Khaṭṭābī preferred the first interpretation, as stated in al-Nihāyah.