“There is no prayer unless the Opening of the Book is recited—and whatever is added thereto.” Abu Dawud also recorded this wording, as did al-Bukhari in his separate fascicle (nos. 3, 9, 10–11, 26); al-Hakim (1/239); al-Daraqutni (pp. 121–22); Ahmad (2/428); and al-Bayhaqi (2/37, 59), all through the chain of Jaʿfar b. Maymun, who said: “Abu Uthman al-Nahdi narrated it to us…” Al-Hakim ruled: “Its isnad is sound and free of defect, for Jaʿfar b. Maymun al-ʿAbdi is among the reliable Basran transmitters, and Yahya b. Saʿid narrates only from trustworthy men,” a judgment endorsed by al-Dhahabi. I note, however, that Jaʿfar was criticized by al-Bukhari, Ahmad, and others; al-Taqrib describes him as “truthful but prone to error.” This particular hadith is strengthened by corroborating lines: al-Tabarani related it in al-Awsat (cited in Nasb al-Rayah, 1/367) through al-Hajjaj b. Artaʿah, from ʿAbd al-Karim, from Abu Uthman—omitting the words “and whatever is added.” Al-Hajjaj was a mudallis and gives the chain only with ʿanʿanah; the same route appears in Musnad Abi Hanifah (13) from ʿAtaʾ b. Abi Rabah. The alternative wording quoted in the main text is al-Daraqutni’s version transmitted through Ziyad b. Ayyub—one of the reliable authorities—from Sufyan; he declared its isnad sahih. This was further corroborated by al-ʿAbbas b. al-Walid al-Narsi, one of al-Bukhari’s teachers. Al-Ismaʿili also recorded it (cited in Fath, 2/192), and Ibn al-Qattan authenticated it (Talkhis, 3/309). There is also a supporting narration from Abu Hurayrah, which will be discussed below, God willing (p. 310).