In sum, had this hadith come only through the two of them, it would have been weak. But since it has also come through one of the trustworthy narrators, their reports are suitable as corroborating evidence and supporting routes. Allah is the Giver of success.

2783 — “Place a barrier before yourselves while praying”—and in another wording: “Let one of you place a barrier before him while praying”—“even if only with an arrow.”

It was recorded by Ibn Khuzaymah in his Sahih, no. 810; Abu Ya‘la (2/239/941); al-Hakim (1/552); al-Bayhaqi (2/270); Ibn Abi Shaybah in al-Musannaf (1/278); Ahmad (3/404); al-Tabarani in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir (7/133–134); and al-Baghawi in Sharh al-Sunnah (2/403), who graded it good, from a group of trustworthy narrators: Ibrahim ibn Sa‘d, Harmalah ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, Zayd ibn al-Hubab, Sabrah, Harmalah’s brother, and Ya‘qub ibn Ibrahim. All five narrated from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn al-Rabi‘ ibn Sabrah, from his father, from his grandfather, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said this.

Al-Hakim said: “Authentic according to Muslim’s criteria.” Al-Dhahabi agreed with him.

I say: This is questionable on two grounds. First, concerning this ‘Abd al-Malik, Abu al-Hasan Ibn al-Qattan said: “His uprightness has not been established. Although Muslim recorded from him, he is not one whose reports may be relied upon as proof.” Al-Hafiz commented in al-Tahdhib: “Muslim only recorded one hadith from him, concerning temporary marriage, as a supporting narration.”

I say: Therefore, it is not according to Muslim’s criteria unless it is supported by a parallel route. Al-Hafiz also said: