The hadith has also been narrated in similar wording on the authority of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Sayyid, attributed to the Prophet, through a weak chain; and on the authority of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd as a statement attributed to the Companion, through an authentic chain. Its full documentation will follow under no. 3189.

2511 — “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Gabriel, peace be upon him: ‘Why is it that I have never seen Michael laugh?’ He replied: ‘Michael has not laughed since the Fire was created.’”

Al-Rūyānī transmitted it in his Musnad (fol. 247/2): Muḥammad ibn Bashshār informed us; Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd al-Qaṭṭān informed us; Thawr ibn Yazīd informed us, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿĀʾidh, from Mujāhid, from Ibn ʿUmar, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him—though at times he did not attribute it to the Prophet—and he then mentioned it.

I say: This is an authentic chain of transmission. Its narrators are all trustworthy narrators of al-Bukhārī, apart from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿĀʾidh, who is trustworthy, as stated in al-Taqrīb. Al-Ḥākim also transmitted the hadith (2/80–81), and al-Bayhaqī transmitted it from him (9/149), by way of Musaddad: Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd narrated to us with the same chain, except that he did not say, “though at times he did not attribute it to the Prophet.” Al-Ḥākim said: “Authentic according to the criteria of al-Bukhārī!” Al-Dhahabī agreed with him! This was an error on their part, in view of the exception mentioned above; al-Mundhirī likewise endorsed it (2/154)!

Al-Ḥākim then said: “Wakīʿ ibn al-Jarrāḥ narrated it from Thawr as a Companion report, while Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd provides a precedent.”

I say: He is correct. However, Yaḥyā mentioned that the narrator—perhaps Ibn ʿUmar or someone below him—would at times not attribute it to the Prophet. That does not harm the report, for a narrator may occasionally lack the energy to attribute it to the Prophet and instead relate it as a Companion report; moreover, this is not something that can be said on the basis of personal opinion, as is apparent.

Note: “Ḥāris al-Ḥaras” is how it appears in al-Musnad, whereas in the other two sources it appears as “Ḥāris Ḥaras.” The latter is perhaps correct, for it is likewise found in the Musannaf of Ibn Abī Shaybah (5/296): Wakīʿ narrated to us; Thawr informed us of it as a Companion report. It is likewise found in al-Targhīb. And Allah knows best.