“There is some question about him.” (1) He then cited this hadith in his biographical notice and said: “It is known only through him.”

Al-Tabarani also narrated it through this route in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir (22/46–49), and in al-Mu'jam al-Saghir (no. 895—al-Rawd), where he recorded it at very great length; however, it does not contain the relevant passage. Al-Bazzar narrated part of it in his Musnad (3/277—al-Kashf), which includes: “He, peace and blessings be upon him, raised his hands, praised Allah and extolled Him, invoked blessings upon the prophets, and the people gathered around him…” the hadith.

Al-Haythami said in al-Majma' (9/373): “Al-Bazzar narrated it, and it contains Muhammad ibn Hujr, who is weak.” He likewise said (9/376) concerning the very lengthy version in the two Mu'jams: “It contains Muhammad ibn Hujr, who is weak.”

I then came across another route for the hadith of Anas that is better than al-Khatib’s route. Ibrahim ibn Ayyub narrated: Al-Nu'man narrated to us, from Abu al-'Awwam, from Qatadah, from Anas, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When you send salutations upon me, send salutations upon the messengers, for I am but a messenger among the messengers.” Abu al-Shaykh recorded it in Tabaqat al-Asbahaniyyin (1/167), and Abu Nu'aym in Akhbar Asbahan (2/335), through two routes from Ibrahim ibn Ayyub with this chain.