I say: This is a good chain of transmission. Its narrators are trustworthy narrators of the two Shaykhs, apart from this al-Jarudi. Al-Khatib included his biography in al-Tarikh (History), stating (2/277):

“He was from Basra, came to Baghdad, and narrated there from Abd al-Aziz ibn Abi Hazim. Ahmad ibn Ali al-Khazzaz, al-Hasan ibn Ulail al-Anazi, and Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Baghawi narrated from him. He was truthful.”

Ibn Hibban listed him in al-Thiqat (The Trustworthy Narrators) and said:

“He narrated from [Ibn] Abi Hazim, and Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Baghawi narrated him to us.”

Strangely, al-Haythami did not know him, saying in Majma al-Zawaid (8/61):

“Al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Awsat, and it contains someone I do not know!”

Yet he mentioned him in his book Tartib Thiqat Ibn Hibban, but did not recall him. So glory be to Him whose knowledge encompasses everything!

As for al-Manawi, he endorsed al-Haythami’s preceding statement and summarized it in al-Taysir, saying: “It contains an unknown narrator!”

This is not sound on his part, for al-Haythami’s not knowing him does not necessarily mean that he is unknown—as the example before you demonstrates. So take note.

The hadith has a corroborating report through Amr ibn Shuayb, from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“No one should sit between two men without their permission.”

Abu Dawud recorded it (4844), and its chain of transmission is good. *