Ibn Hibban’s declarations of reliability are not relied upon by the scholars! Yet we then found that he himself had relied on Ibn Hibban’s declaration, and had consequently deemed this Nubayt reliable by following him, although only one person narrates from him and he is weak nonetheless. Allah has His ways in His creation.
What further confirms its rejected nature is the following corroborative report for the hadith under discussion:
- As for the hadith of Abu Kahil, it is narrated by al-Fadl ibn ‘Ata’, from al-Fadl ibn Shu‘ayb, from Manzur, from Abu Mu‘adh, from Abu Kahil, who said: Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “...,” and he mentioned a lengthy hadith, which includes: “Know, Abu Kahil, that whoever prays for forty days and forty nights in congregation, catching the opening takbir, Allah has obligated Himself to quench his thirst on the Day of Thirst.”
It was recorded by al-Tabarani (18/361–362) and al-‘Uqayli (p. 353), in the biographical entry of this al-Fadl. Al-‘Uqayli said: “Its chain is unknown, and it is questionable.” Al-Mundhiri cited it in full in al-Targhib (4/139–140), through al-Tabarani’s narration, then said: “Taken as a whole, it is rejected. Passages that corroborate some of it have preceded in various places in this book. And Allah knows best its condition.”
In conclusion, considering its four chains from Anas together, the hadith is good at the very least. As for the remaining chains, even if they do not add strength to it, they will not weaken it. And Allah Most High knows best.
I then found that al-Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him, definitively stated that Habib in the first chain is Habib ibn Abi Habib al-Bajali, Abu ‘Umayr, and that whoever said in the chain, “Habib ibn Abi Thabit,” was mistaken. He then cited it, correctly, through the route of Tu‘mah and through the route of Khalid ibn Tahman. Thus, each of them strengthens the other, as mentioned above. And Allah Most High knows best.