Al-Hakim recorded it and made no comment on it, despite what you have learned of the condition of al-Hasan ibn Abi Ja‘far.
In sum, the Prophet’s divorce of Hafsa, peace and blessings be upon him, is established through several chains; and his being commanded to take her back is established by the authentic hadith of Anas. Gabriel’s words to him—“Take her back, for she fasts frequently ...”—are good, as we have stated. And Allah knows best.
A point of benefit: The hadith indicates that a man may divorce his wife even if she fasts frequently and stands often in prayer. Naturally, this can only be because they lack mutual compatibility and harmony; there may also be private matters that no one else can know. Therefore, making divorce contingent upon a judge’s approval is among the worst and most absurd notions heard in this age—one which many of its rulers, judges, and preachers constantly promote by citing the hadith: “The most detestable of lawful things to Allah is divorce.” This is a weak hadith, as I have explained in more than one place, such as Irwa’ al-Ghalil (no. 2040).
2008 — “The killer of ‘Ammar and the one who despoils him are in the Fire.”
It was narrated by Abu Muhammad al-Mukhlidi in Three Sessions from al-Amali (75/1–2), from Layth, from Mujahid, from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr, in a report attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
I say: This is a weak chain of transmission, for Layth—namely, Ibn Abi Sulaym—became confused in his later years. However, he was not alone in narrating it: ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Mubarak said: Al-Mu‘tamir ibn Sulayman narrated to us from his father, from Mujahid, with the same report. Al-Hakim recorded it (3/387) and said: “Only ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Mubarak narrated it; he is trustworthy and reliable. If it has been preserved correctly, then it is authentic according to the criteria of al-Bukhari and Muslim.”
I say: It has another chain. Imam Ahmad (4/198) and Ibn Sa‘d in al-Tabaqat (3/260–261)—the latter’s wording being cited here—recorded: ‘Uthman ibn Muslim informed us; he said: Hammad ibn Salamah informed us; he said: