Al-Hafiz al-‘Iraqi said in his Takhrij:

“Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Hibban narrated it on the authority of Jabir, with a sound chain of transmission.”

I say: His attribution of it to al-Tirmidhi is an error. It was perhaps introduced by the copyist or the printer, for he had attributed it to its transmitters by means of symbols, using the letter “T” for al-Tirmidhi; but this was apparently corrupted by the copyist or someone else from “N,” referring to al-Nasa’i. As you have learned, al-Nasa’i narrated it in abridged form.

Moreover, Jabir’s hadith, in none of the versions transmitted by its collectors, mentions the beard at all, nor does it contain the words: “Does one of you enter looking like a devil?!”

Rather, this occurs in the hadith of ‘Ata’ ibn Yasar, who said:

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was in the mosque when a man entered with dishevelled hair and beard. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, gestured to him with his hand to leave, seemingly meaning that he should put his hair and beard in order. The man did so and then returned. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘This is better than one of you coming with dishevelled hair, looking like a devil.’”

Malik narrated it in al-Muwatta’ (2/949/7) with an authentic chain of transmission, but it is mursal.

494 — “Ahead of you lie days of patience. Whoever holds fast during them to what you are upon today will have the reward of fifty of you.” They said, “O Prophet of Allah, or fifty of them?” He said, “Rather, fifty of you.”

Ibn Nasr narrated it in al-Sunnah (p. 9) through Ibrahim ibn Abi ‘Ablah, from ‘Utbah ibn Ghazwan, the brother of Banu Mazin ibn Sa‘sa‘ah, who was one of the Companions—that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said it.

I say: Its chain of transmission is authentic, and all its narrators are trustworthy, were it not for the fact that Ibrahim ibn Abi ‘Ablah’s report from ‘Utbah ibn Ghazwan is mursal, as stated in al-Tahdhib.