In my assessment, its chain of transmission is good: others narrated from Ubayd Allah ibn Hurayr, and Ibn Hibban mentioned him in al-Thiqat (The Reliable Narrators) (7/151). His father was declared trustworthy by Ibn Ma'in and others.

It also has another route, narrated by Abu Balj, from Abayah ibn Rifa'ah, that his grandfather died and left behind a slave woman who was earning an income. They mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he disapproved of the earnings of a slave woman, saying:

“Perhaps she will find nothing and so resort to prostitution.”

It was recorded by al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir (4/328/4408).

I say: Its chain is good, though mursal.

Ahmad (4/141) and al-Tabarani also recorded it (no. 4405), through another route from Abayah ibn Rifa'ah, in abridged form, omitting his words, “Perhaps she ...,” and so forth. Ahmad, however, added: “Shu'bah said: ‘For fear that she might resort to prostitution.’”

Perhaps this is the source of that addition which occurred in the previously cited narration of Ibn Hibban. Some narrators erred and interpolated it into the hadith.

It has also been attributed to the Prophet in a report from Ibn Abbas with a feeble chain, which I mention in order to clarify its status. It is narrated by Suwwar ibn Mus'ab, from Atiyyah al-Awfi, who said: I heard Ibn Abbas say:

“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited the earnings of slave women.”

I said to Ibn Abbas: “Why did he prohibit it?” He replied: “For fear that they might be unable to earn and then commit fornication.”

It was recorded by al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir (12/129/12673).