It also has other routes from Jabir with similar wording in the two Sahihs and elsewhere; they are documented in al-Irwa’ (925).

The hadith clearly indicates that fasting while travelling is not permissible when it harms the fasting person. This is how the Prophet’s saying, “It is not righteousness to fast while travelling,” and his saying, “Those are the disobedient ones,” are to be understood. In all other circumstances, one has a choice: he may fast if he wishes, or break his fast if he wishes. This is the sum of what the hadiths in this chapter indicate, and there is no contradiction between them, praise be to Allah.

2596 — “Abu Bakr, you have chosen the safer course; Umar, you have chosen the more demanding course.”

Ibn Majah (1/363) and Ahmad (3/309/330) narrated it from Za’idah, who said: Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Aqil narrated to us from Jabir ibn Abdullah, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Abu Bakr, “At what time do you perform Witr?” He replied, “At the beginning of the night, after the Isha prayer.” He then asked Umar, “And you?” He replied, “At the end of the night.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, then said the words cited above.

This is a good chain of transmission, as stated in Zawa’id Ibn Majah and al-Talkhis (4/237). It also has corroborating reports that raise it to the rank of authentic. Among them is a similar report from Ibn Umar. It was narrated by Ibn Majah, Ibn Nasr in Qiyam al-Layl, p. 116, and al-Hakim (1/1–3), from Muhammad ibn Abbad al-Makki, who said: Yahya ibn Sulaym narrated to us from Ubayd Allah, from Nafi', from him. Al-Hakim said, “Its chain of transmission is authentic.” Al-Dhahabi agreed with him, and the author of al-Zawa’id said the same.

I say: It meets the criteria of the two Sahih compilers, for all of its narrators are among their narrators. Ibn Majah and Ibn Hibban (673—Mawarid) also narrated it. Al-Hafiz said: “Al-Bazzar likewise narrated it and said: ‘We know of no one who narrated it from Ubayd Allah ibn Umar, from Nafi', except Yahya