Al-Suyūṭī included this hadith in al-Jāmiʿ al-Kabīr, reporting it only from Aḥmad and al-Ṭabarānī, and made no comment on it, as was generally his practice.*

3268—“Invoke blessings upon me, for your invoking blessings upon me is a purification for you; and ask Allah to grant me al-Wasīlah (the highest station in Paradise).”

Imām Ismāʿīl ibn Isḥāq al-Qāḍī transmitted it in The Merit of Invoking Blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (18/46): Sulaymān ibn Ḥarb narrated to us; he said: Saʿīd ibn Zayd narrated to us, from Layth, from Kaʿb, from Abū Hurayrah, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: … and he then cited it.

I say: This is a chain of transmission whose narrators are trustworthy, apart from Layth—namely, Ibn Abī Sulaym—who was truthful but had become confused. Muslim narrated from him in conjunction with another narrator. Al-Dhahabī said in al-Kāshif:

“He has slight weakness due to his poor retention. He was devoted to prayer and fasting and possessed abundant knowledge, and some scholars accepted him as proof.”

I say: A narrator of his standing may be cited in corroboration, and I have found a supporting report for him, as will follow.

Saʿīd ibn Zayd was al-Azdī, the brother of Ḥammād. Muslim narrated from him, but the scholars criticized his retention. Al-Ḥāfiẓ said:

“Truthful, but prone to errors.”

I say: He was corroborated. Ismāʿīl said (47): Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr narrated to us; Muʿtamir narrated to us from Layth, with the same report.

Ibn Abī Shaybah said in al-Muṣannaf (2/517): Ibn Fuḍayl narrated to us from Layth with the same report, but without the clause concerning al-Wasīlah.