Its documentation has also previously been given under no. 962. In sum, the hadith is authentic on account of its combined corroborating reports, especially the last of them. And Allah Most High knows best.

It is also corroborated by the hadith of Layth, from Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, from Umm Durrah, from Aishah, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: “I and the sponsor of an orphan—whether related to him or to someone else—will be in Paradise; and the one who cares for a widow and a needy person is like one striving in the path of Allah.”

Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Muʿjam al-Awsaṭ (The Intermediate Lexicon) (1 / 291 / 2 / 4878), through Sahl ibn Uthman, who said: Hafs ibn Ghiyath narrated to us from him. He said: “No one narrated it from Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir except Layth, and no one narrated it from Layth except Hafs; Sahl ibn Uthman alone narrated it.” That is what he said!

This is refuted by the statement of Abu Yaʿla in his Musnad (8 / 280 / 4866): Abd al-Rahman ibn Salih al-Azdi narrated to us: Hafs ibn Ghiyath narrated to us the same report, except that he did not mention, “whether related to him or to someone else.” Thus, Abd al-Rahman ibn Salih corroborated Sahl. Nor can it be said that al-Tabarani intended by the aforementioned negation the hadith with this addition, for that is not their customary practice, as is known to anyone who examines their statements.

Moreover, Abu Yaʿla added at the end of the hadith: “…and the fasting person who stands in prayer without ceasing.” This addition is corroborated by the hadith of Abu Hurayrah mentioned above, which Muslim narrated in one version with the wording: