Allamah Muhammad ibn Abdur Rahman Sakhaawi said in

“القول البديع في الصلاة على الحبيب الشفيع صلى الله عليه وسلم”:

[A] “It is narrated from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Salaat (Salutations/Durood) upon me is a light on the Siraat (Bridge). The one who sends salaat upon me on the day of Jumuah eighty (80) times, his sins of eighty (80) years will be forgiven.”

Ibn Shaheen collected it in ‘Al-Afraad’ and others, Ibn Bashkuwaal collected it from his chain, Abus Shaikh, Ad-Dhiyaa, Abul Yaman Ibn A’saakir, both, collected it from the chain of Daarqutni in ‘Al-Afraad’ as well, Dailami collected it in ‘Musnadul Firdaws’ and Abu Nuaim (collected it). Its chain is weak. It is (collected) by Al-Azdi in ‘Ad-Dhu’afaa’ from the hadith of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه as well, however, through another chain, which is also weak.

Abul Yaman ibn A’saakir said, after transmitting it through the chain of Daarqutni, in which Saeed ibnul Musaiiyib’s statement “I feel it is narrated through Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه” is made:

“This is how it is narrated with an uncertainty of it being transmitted through Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, from the chain of A’wn ibn U’marah, from As-Sakan ibn Ibrahim Al-Burjumi, from Al-Hajjaaj ibn Sinaan, from Ali ibn Zaid, from Saeed.

A person/s other than A’wn narrated from As-Sakan and said, “from Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه” instead of ‘Abu Hurairah’  رضي الله عنه without any hesitation.” End (quote of Abul Yaman).

Abu Sa’d collected it in ‘Sharful Mustafaa’ from the hadith of Anas. And Allah knows best.”

Explanation:

This Hadith,

“Salaat (Salutations/Durood) upon me is a light on the Siraat (Bridge). The one who sends salaat upon me on the day of Jumuah eighty (80) times, his sins of eighty (80) years will be forgiven,” was collected by many muhaddithun in their respective books of Hadith, History or Asmaur Raijaal. This is a list of their names:

1. Ibn Shaheen
2. Ibn Bashkuwaal
3. Abus Shaikh,
4. Ad-Dhiyaa,
5. Abul Yaman Ibn A’saakir,
6. Daarqutni
7. Dailami
8. Abu Nuaim
9. Al-Azdi
10. Abu Sa’d

It is narrated through three (3) Sahabah, they are:

1. Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه
2. Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه and
3. Anas رضي الله عنه

There is a doubt in the narration ascribed to Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه. The transmitter is not sure if the narrations go through Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه or some other Sahabi.

Is the chain of narration known?

Yes, the chains of narrations are known. Here we will reproduce this hadith with its chain of narrations from Ibn Bashkuwaal’s book on Salaat was Salaam (Durood). Ibn Bashkuwaal’s book is called ‘Al-Qurbah ilaa Rabbil A’alameen bis Salaat alaa Muhammad Saiyyidil Mursaleen’.

Grade:

Hafidh Sakhawi graded two chains weak.

Concerning the narration of Saeed ibnul Musayyib from Abu Hurairah, Ibn Hajr Asqalani said, “Daarqutni said, ‘Hajjaj ibn Sinaan is alone in narrating it from Ali ibn Zaid, and no one narrated it from Hajjaj except As-Sakan, and Awn is alone in narrating it (from As-Sakan).’

I (Ibn Hajr) say, all four are weak.”

[Nataaijul Afkaar by Ibn Hajr Vol.5 Pg.56, Atraful Gharaib wal Afraad of Daarqutni by Maqdisi #5158]

Munaawi and San’aani concurred with Ibn Hajr in their respective commentaries of Suyuti’s ‘Jameus Sagheer’. [‘Faidhul Qadir’ Vol.4 Pg.249, At-Tanweer Vol.7 Pg.89] Ghimari did not refute Munawi in ‘Al-Mudawi’ [Vol.4. Pg.395]

Therefore, the hadith would be weaker according to these scholars. It is also a possibility that Sakhawi considers the hadith extremely weak even though he sufficed with the word weak. Sometimes muhaddithun simply say weak even if it is extremely weak as the word ‘weak’ has a wide application.

However, Hafidh Suyuti gave this hadith a place in his ‘Jame’us Sagheer’ and referenced it to Al-Azdi in ‘Ad-Dhu’afaa’ and Daarqutni in ‘Al-Afraad’. In its publication with ‘Faidhul Qadeer’ [Vol.4 Pg.249] the initial of haa (ح), which means hasan (sound) is written, while San’aani states in his commentary that the initial dhaad (ض), which means weak is written. [See At-Tanweer Vol. 7 Pg.89] Whether, Suyuti graded it sound or weak, his listing of this hadith in ‘Jame’us Sagheer’ is an indication that it is suitable to quote and use in the realm of Fadhail (virtues), at the least. And Allah knows best.