Al-Haythamī said:

“Al-Ṭabarānī narrated it in al-Muʿjam al-Awsaṭ, as did al-Bazzār, and the transmitters in al-Bazzār’s chain have been deemed trustworthy.”

This is similar to the statement made before him by al-Mundhirī in al-Targhīb (1/79):

“Al-Ṭabarānī narrated it in al-Muʿjam al-Awsaṭ, and al-Bazzār narrated it with a chain that is unobjectionable. Abū Yaʿlā, al-Bazzār, and al-Ṭabarānī also narrated it on the authority of al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib.”

I say: Taken together, the two chains leading to them, along with the chain of Umm al-Faḍl, the wife of al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, make it possible to judge the hadith as rising to the rank of good. This is especially so given that its meaning accords with reality, and that its opening portion is among his scientific miracles, which demonstrate the truth of his prophethood, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. And Allah Most High knows best.

3231—“A man from among those who came before you passed by a skull. He looked at it and reflected to himself upon something, then said, ‘My Lord! You are You, and I am I. You are ever-returning with forgiveness, while I am ever-returning to sins!’ Then he fell prostrate before Allah, and he was told, ‘Raise your head. You are ever-returning to sins, and I am ever-returning with forgiveness.’ [So he raised his head, and he was forgiven.]”

It was reported by Ibn ʿAdī (2/147), al-Khaṭīb in al-Tārīkh (9/92), al-Daylamī in Musnad al-Firdaws (3/67), and Ibn ʿAsākir in Tārīkh Dimashq (2/71), through the route of Saʿīd ibn Nuṣayr al-Baghdādī: Sayyār ibn Ḥātim narrated to us; Jaʿfar ibn Sulaymān al-Ḍubaʿī narrated to us, saying: I heard Muḥammad ibn al-Munkadir relate from Jābir a report attributed to the Prophet.

Al-Khaṭīb said:

“Sayyār ibn Ḥātim alone narrated it in this form as a report attributed to the Prophet, from Jaʿfar ibn Sulaymān; and al-ʿAbbās narrated it...”