Is the Hadith: "Prayer is the best subject, so whoever can increase in it, let him do so" authentically attributed, despite the presence of abandoned narrators in its chains?
The : "Prayer is the best subject; whoever wishes may do little, and whoever wishes may do much." It was narrated by Ahmad, Al-Tabarani, and Al-Hakim, who authenticated it. It has various chains of transmission from Abu Dharr and Abu Umamah.
Al-Hafiz said in Al-Talkhis: "It is a well-known report, and it was narrated by Ibn Hibban in his , and by Al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat and Al-Tawalat. Ibn Hibban, however, found fault with it due to Yahya ibn Sa'id, but it has a corroborating narration from Abu Umamah."
The Hadith was weakened by the investigator of Al-Musnad. Al-Albani was of the opinion that it is strengthened by the totality of its chains of transmission, thus becoming li ghairihi (good due to external factors).
This Hadith is among the ahadith al-fadail (narrations regarding virtues), and scholars are lenient in narrating ahadith al-fadail, unlike ahadith al-ahkam (narrations regarding rulings).
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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