I say: Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir explained the reason for its singularity, stating in his Exegesis:

“This is singular in that it mentions the revelation of this verse, whereas the sura in its entirety is Makkan. And Allah knows best.”

I say: Its chain of transmission is weak because Tarif is weak. However, it is strengthened by a corroborating report from the hadith of Ibn Abbas, transmitted by Simak from Ikrimah from him. He said:

The dwellings of the Ansar were far from the mosque, and they wished to move closer. Then the following was revealed: “And We record what they have sent forth and the traces they leave behind.”

He said: So they remained where they were.

It was recorded by Ibn Majah (785) and also by Ibn Jarir.

I say: The narrators in this chain are trustworthy and are narrators used by Muslim, though some scholars spoke critically of Simak, particularly regarding his narrations from Ikrimah. Nevertheless, al-Mundhiri said in At-Targhib (1/27/10):

“Reported by Ibn Majah with a good chain of transmission.”

Al-Hafiz also deemed it strong in Al-Fath.

Thus, taken together, the two chains render the hadith authentic, especially since it has other, shorter corroborating reports that do not mention the verse.

Among them is the report of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:

Banu Salimah wished to relocate nearer to the mosque, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ disliked that Medina should be left deserted. He said:

“O Banu Salimah! Will you not seek the reward for your footsteps?”

So they stayed.

It was recorded by al-Bukhari (655, 665, and 1887), Ibn Majah (784), al-Bayhaqi in The Branches of Faith (3/66/2887), and Ahmad (3/106, 182, and 263).