What is the authenticity of the hadith: "Indeed, Allah Almighty sent one hundred and twenty-four thousand prophets and three hundred and thirteen messengers," and what is the reason for the ruling against it?

Imam Ahmad reported in his Musnad a hadith from Abu Umama who said: While the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was sitting in the mosque, the Companions thought that revelation was being sent down to him, so they kept their distance, until Abu Dharr came and sat beside him.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, asked him: "Have you prayed today?" He replied: "No." He said: "Stand up and pray." When Abu Dharr prayed four rak'ahs of Duha prayer, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him: "Seek refuge from the evil of the devils among jinn and humans." When the Prophet was asked about the existence of devils among humans, he replied that the devils among jinn and humans inspire one another with alluring words, in deception.

Then he taught him a word from the treasure of Paradise: "There is no might and no power except with Allah."

When Abu Dharr asked about prayer, fasting, and charity, he said about prayer: "It is the best act to perform; whoever wishes can do little, and whoever wishes can do much." About fasting, he said: "It is an obligatory act that suffices." About charity, he said: "Multiplied many times over, and with Allah there is more," and that the best of it is "given secretly to a poor person and from the effort of one who has little."

When asked about the greatest verse revealed to him, he mentioned Ayat al-Kursi. And about the best martyrs: "One whose blood is shed and whose horse is hamstrung." And about the best slaves to free: "The most expensive in price and the most precious to their owners."

When asked about the first of the prophets, he said: "Adam, peace be upon him," and that he was a prophet spoken to by God, whom Allah created with His hand and into whom He breathed of His spirit.

As for the number of prophets, he said: "One hundred and twenty-four thousand, and among them, the messengers are three hundred and fifteen."

Shaykh Shu'ayb al-Arna'ut has deemed the chain of narration for this hadith weak.