In sum, this addition found in al-Tirmidhī’s version is anomalous and is not established in the hadith narrated from Anas. The more likely view is that it was interpolated into it, as is made clear by Aḥmad’s narration. It is, however, supported by the hadith of Samurah ibn Jundub, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Firdaws is the elevated region of Paradise—its highest, central, and best part—and from it the rivers of Paradise gush forth.” Al-Haythamī said (10/398): “It was narrated in abbreviated form by al-Ṭabarānī and al-Bazzār. He added to it: ‘When you ask Allah Almighty, ask Him for Firdaws.’ The narrators in one of al-Ṭabarānī’s chains have been declared trustworthy, although some of them have been considered weak.” This addition has another corroborating report; therefore, I have given it separate source documentation below (2003).

I say: The first route recorded by al-Ṭabarānī in al-Kabīr (6885 and 6886) is through two routes from Qatādah, from al-Ḥasan, from Samurah. He then recorded it (7088) through the other route: from Khubayb ibn Sulaymān ibn Samurah, from his father, from Samurah. This is a weak chain containing an unknown narrator. The preceding chain is transmitted using the unexplicit “from” formula.

1812 — “Paradise has eight gates, and Hell has seven gates.”

Recorded by Aḥmad (4/185) and Ibn Saʿd (7/430), through Ṣafwān ibn ʿAmr al-Saksakī, from Abū al-Muthannā al-Amlūkī, from ʿUtbah ibn ʿAbd al-Sulamī, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say this.

I say: Its narrators are trustworthy, apart from Abū al-Muthannā al-Amlūkī. Al-ʿIjlī and Ibn Ḥibbān declared him trustworthy, and Hilāl ibn Yasāf also narrated from him, according to some authorities.