Accordingly, it is not fair to disregard a man concerning whom such declarations of trustworthiness have been made and rely on the judgment of one who criticized him—especially when that criticism is unspecified. The truth is that he is of middling standing, and his hadith is good. Allah knows best.

2034 — “Every inhabitant of the Fire will see his place in Paradise and say, ‘If only Allah had guided me!’ Thus, it will be a source of regret for them. Every inhabitant of Paradise will see his place in the Fire and say, ‘Had Allah not guided me...’ Thus, it will be a cause of gratitude for him.” Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) recited:

“Lest a soul should say, ‘Alas for what I neglected in my duty to Allah!’” (1)

Al-Hakim (2/435–436), Ahmad (2/512), and al-Khatib (5/24) narrated it through Abu Bakr ibn Ayyash, from al-Aʿmash, from Abu Salih, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said,” and then cited it.

Al-Hakim said: “Authentic according to the criteria of al-Bukhari and Muslim,” and al-Dhahabi agreed with him.

I say: There is some criticism of Abu Bakr ibn Ayyash with regard to his memory; thus, his hadith is good. Al-Hafiz said in al-Taqrib: “Trustworthy and devout, except that his memory deteriorated in old age; however, his written record is authentic.”

2035 — “Every supplication is held back until blessings are invoked upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).”

Ibn Makhlad narrated it in al-Muntaqa min Ahadithihi (Selections from His Hadiths) (76/1), and al-Asbahani in al-Targhib (Encouragement) (fol. 171/2), through Salam ibn Sulayman, who narrated to us from Qays, from Abu Ishaq, from al-Harith, from Ali, who attributed it to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).