“Perhaps this hadith narrated from Ayyūb, from Saʿīd al-Maqburī, is [the narration of] Ayyūb Abū al-ʿAlāʾ, namely Ayyūb ibn Miskīn.” Perhaps this is correct. And Allah knows best.

This Ayyūb was truthful, though prone to errors, as stated in al-Taqrīb. Ibn Isḥāq practised tadlīs, and Abū Dāwūd transmitted it through his route in abridged form (3537). It has, however, been corroborated: Aḥmad (2/292) said: “Yazīd narrated to us: Abū Maʿshar informed us, from Saʿīd ibn Abī Saʿīd al-Maqburī,” with the same wording. This Abū Maʿshar was named Nujayḥ ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Sindī al-Madanī, and he is weak. Yazīd is Ibn Hārūn. Thus, it appears that he had two teachers for this hadith: Ayyūb ibn Abī Miskīn and Abū Maʿshar. Ibn ʿAjlān also corroborated it from al-Maqburī. Al-Bayhaqī transmitted it (6/180). Thus, through the مجموع of these corroborating routes, the hadith is authentic.

It also has another, abridged route from Abū Hurayrah, attributed to the Prophet. Ibn Ḥibbān transmitted it (1145). In his collection and in that of al-Ḍiyāʾ (6/281/2), it has a supporting report from the hadith of Ibn ʿAbbās. Its chain is authentic.

1685 — “A man said: ‘By Allah, Allah will not forgive so-and-so.’ Thereupon Allah said: ‘Who is this who swears by Me that I will not forgive so-and-so? Indeed, I have forgiven so-and-so, and I have rendered your deeds void.’ Or as he said.”

Muslim transmitted it (8/36), as did Ibn Abī al-Dunyā in Thinking Well of Allah (190/1–2).