It was recorded by Abū Dāwūd (3194) and Aḥmad (3/151) with a good chain of transmission, so the ḥadīth with this supporting evidence is authentic, if Allāh wills.
أخرجه أبو داود (٣١٩٤) وأحمد (٣ / ١٥١) بسند حسن،فالحديث بهذا الشاهد صحيح إن شاء الله تعالى.
"I prayed a prayer of hope and fear, and I asked Allāh for three things for my community. He granted me two and withheld one. I asked Him not to impose upon them an enemy from outside themselves, and He granted me that. I asked Him not to destroy them by drowning, and He granted me that. I asked Him not to make their discord among themselves, and He withheld that from me." It was recorded by Ibn Mājah (3951), Ibn Khuzaymah in his "Ṣaḥīḥ" (no. 1218), and Aḥmad (5/240) through the route of Rajāʾ al-Anṣārī from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Shaddād ibn al-Hād from Muʿādh ibn Jabal who said: "The Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) prayed one day and prolonged it. When he finished, we said: 'O Messenger of Allāh, you prolonged the prayer today?' He said: 'and he mentioned it.'" Al-Būṣīrī said in "Zawāʾid Ibn Mājah" (264/1): "This chain is authentic, its narrators are trustworthy. It was narrated by Imām Aḥmad in his 'Musnad' and Abū Bakr ibn Abī Shaybah in his (Musnad)." I say: Its narrators are trustworthy according to the criteria of the two Shaykhs except for Rajāʾ al-Anṣārī, who is unknown. Al-Dhahabī said: "No one narrated from him except al-Aʿmash," so how can its chain be authentic? Yes, the ḥadīth has another route and supporting evidence that strengthens it: Aḥmad recorded it (5/243 and 247) through two routes from ʿAbd al-Malik ibn ʿUmayr from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā from Muʿādh with a similar wording except that he said:
- "إني صليت صلاة رغبة ورهبة، سألت الله ﷿ لأمتي ثلاثا، فأعطاني اثنتين ورد علي واحدة، سألته أن لا يسلط عليهم عدوا من غيرهم، فأعطانيها، وسألته أن لا يهلكهم غرقا، فأعطانيها، وسألته أن لا يجعل بأسهم بينهم، فردها علي". أخرجه ابن ماجة (٣٩٥١) وابن خزيمة في "صحيحه" (رقم - ١٢١٨) وأحمد (٥ / ٢٤٠) من طريق رجاء الأنصاري عن عبد الله بن شداد بن الهاد عن معاذ بن جبل قال: "صلى رسول الله ﷺ يوما صلاة، فأطال فيها، فلما انصرف قلنا: يا رسول الله أطلت اليوم الصلاة؟ قال: "فذكره. قال البوصيري في "زوائد ابن ماجة" (٢٦٤ / ١): "هذا إسناد صحيح، رجاله ثقات، رواه الإمام أحمد في "مسنده" وأبو بكر بن أبي شيبة في (مسنده)". قلت: ورجاله ثقات رجال الشيخين غير رجاء الأنصاري، وهو مجهول، فقد قال الذهبي: "ما روى عنه سوى الأعمش"، فأنى لإسناده الصحة. نعم للحديث طريق آخر وشواهد يتقوى بها: فأخرجه أحمد (٥ / ٢٤٣ و ٢٤٧) من طريقين عن عبد الملك ابن عمير عن عبد الرحمن بن أبي ليلى عن معاذ به نحوه إلا أنه قال: