I say: This is an authentic chain according to Muslim’s criteria. Muslim also transmitted it, as will follow, but without Abu al-Zubayr’s explicit declaration of transmission. This is a valuable benefit that al-Humaydi—may Allah have mercy on him—preserved for us, and for that reason I have cited it.

Muslim transmitted it (6/107) through ʿAbd al-Rahman, who said: Sufyan narrated to us, with this chain; except that he did not give its wording, but said: “Similar to Zuhayr’s hadith.”

That is, the hadith preceding it, whose wording he had given. Al-Baghawi also transmitted it from him in Sharh al-Sunnah (11/393) and authenticated it, through two routes from Abu al-Zubayr, from Jabir, attributed to the Prophet:

“Do not send out your livestock and your children when the sun has set, until the deep darkness of night has passed; for the devils spread forth when the sun sets, until the deep darkness of night has passed.”

It was likewise transmitted by Abu ʿAwanah in his Musnad (5/333), Abu Dawud in his Sunan (2604), al-Bayhaqi (5/256), and Ahmad (3/312, 386, and 395).

Ibn Khuzaymah transmitted it in his Sahih (1/68/132 and 4/148/2590), as did Ibn Hibban from him (2/285/1272), and Ahmad (3/301), through Fitr ibn Khalifah, from Abu al-Zubayr, with similar wording.

ʿAtaʾ ibn Abi Rabah also corroborated him from Jabir in part of it.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim, as well as others, transmitted it, and its documentation appears in al-Irwaʾ (1/79–80).

In another version recorded by both of them:

“When the darkness of night falls, keep your children in, for the devils spread about at that time …” The hadith. Its documentation has preceded under no. 40.