There is another route for this hadith from Abu Hurayrah with similar wording, recorded by al-Ṭayālisī and Aḥmad in their respective Musnads. Its chain contains a point of criticism which I have mentioned in al-Taʿlīq al-Raghīb.

Abu Dāwūd recorded the hadith in his Marāsīl (84/25), as did al-Dārimī (1/118), from al-Awzāʿī; and al-Bayhaqī recorded it in his Sunan (3/56), from Sufyān. Both narrated it from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Ḥarmalah al-Aslamī, from Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyib, as a mursal report. Its chain is authentic, and this does not conflict with the connected version, since those who transmitted it with a continuous chain are trustworthy—unless the error came from al-Rāzī. In any case, the hadith is authentic by way of the other route.

Be aware that the apparent wording of the hadith restricts the ruling it mentions to the mosque of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. In meaning, however, it applies generally to all mosques, due to the numerous hadiths indicating that congregational prayer is a duty. Leaving the mosque causes one to miss that duty, so take note.

This is further supported by what Abu al-Shaʿthāʾ narrated: “We were with Abu Hurayrah in the mosque when a man left as the caller to prayer gave the call for the afternoon prayer. Abu Hurayrah said, ‘That man has disobeyed Abu al-Qāsim, peace and blessings be upon him.’” Muslim and others recorded it. It is also documented in al-Irwāʾ (1/263/245) and Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd (547).

Two observations: First, the annotator of Marāsīl Abī Dāwūd overlooked the corroboration of its mursal report by the connected hadith under discussion, from Saʿīd, from Abu Hurayrah. Second, he criticized the mursal report on account of al-Walīd—ibn Muslim—having practised concealment in transmission, but he overlooked that he had