The hadith also has a corroborating report from the hadith of ʿĀṣim ibn Laqīṭ, narrated from him by Dalham ibn al-Aswad, whom al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar considered acceptable. It was recorded by Aḥmad (4/13–14). Al-Tirmidhī narrated (4/132—Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī), through Junayd, from Ibn ʿUmar in a report traced back to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “Hell has seven gates, one of them being for whoever draws the sword against my Ummah.” He said: “It is a singular hadith”—that is, weak. This Junayd was not declared trustworthy by anyone other than Ibn Ḥibbān, and it was said that he did not hear from Ibn ʿUmar.

In sum, the hadith is authentic when all these routes are considered together. Its first part is more authentic, for it has corroborating reports in the two Ṣaḥīḥs and elsewhere. See, if you wish, Hādī al-Arwāḥ (1/88–99).

1813 — “Be diligent in observing the two prayers: a prayer before sunrise and a prayer before sunset.”

It was recorded by Abū Dāwūd (453 in his Ṣaḥīḥ), al-Ṭaḥāwī in al-Mushkil (1/440), Ibn Ḥibbān (282), al-Ḥākim (1/20; 3/628), al-Bayhaqī, and al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar in al-Aḥādīth al-ʿĀliyāt (Hadiths with High Chains), no. 31, through ʿAbd Allāh ibn Faḍālah al-Laythī, from his father, Faḍālah, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, instructed me, and among the things he taught me was his saying to me: “Be diligent in observing the five daily prayers.” I said, “These are times during which I have other engagements, so command me with a comprehensive instruction which, if I fulfil it, will suffice for me.” He then mentioned the above.

Al-Ḥāfiẓ said: “This hadith is authentic. However, its text presents a difficulty, since it suggests that one may suffice with the two prayers. It may be understood as referring to congregational prayer: that is, he was granted leave not to attend some of the prayers in congregation, not to abandon them altogether.”