Its narrators are reliable.

2116 — “I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) eat food that had been touched by fire, then pray without performing minor ablution.”

Ahmad (1/272) narrated it from Ibn Abi al-Zinad, from his father, from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Ata’, from ‘Alqamah al-Qurashi, who said: “We entered the house of Maimunah, the Prophet’s wife (peace and blessings be upon him), and found ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abbas there. We mentioned performing minor ablution after eating food touched by fire, so ‘Abd Allah said”—then he cited it. One of us said to him, “Did you see him yourself, Ibn ‘Abbas?” He gestured with his hand toward his eyes and said, “With my own eyes.”

I say: This is a good chain of transmission. Wahb ibn Kaysan corroborated him, from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Ata’, with the wording: “I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) eat a mutton bone with meat on it; then he prayed without performing minor ablution or touching any water.” Muslim (1/188) and Abu ‘Awanah (1/272) narrated it.

It also has a supporting report from the hadith of ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Harith ibn Juz’, who said: “During the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), we would eat bread and meat in the mosque, then pray without performing minor ablution.” Ibn Hibban (223) narrated it.

I say: Its chain of transmission is authentic. Al-Suyuti cited this hadith in al-Jamiʿ, attributing it only to al-Tabarani in al-Kabir, with the wording: “He would eat whatever …” to the end of the hadith.