Technical note / Defect ('illah): In manuscripts (Z) and (B) the word "أخت" (sister) has been corrupted into "أخي", and in manuscripts (S) and ('A) its place is left blank. In al-Bayhaqi's "al-Sunan" (9/ 235) (which he narrated from the author (al-Hakim)) it occurs as "أم أبي رافع", which is a mistake. Most of the sources that recorded this hadith have "أم رافع". Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar combined the two while recording the hadith in "Ithaf al-Maharah" (17710), saying: "From Salma Umm Rafi', and she is the sister of Abu Rafi'"; it is as though he took the view that this Salma is different from Salma the wife of Abu Rafi', whose biography he gave in "al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah" (7/ 709). In a hadith narrated by Abd al-Rahman bin Abi Rafi' in "al-Sunan" and "Musnad Ahmad" (39/ (23862)), he said: from his paternal aunt Salma, from Abu Rafi', and he mentioned another hadith. Either way, this Salma was a Companion. And Allah Most High knows best.

Grading: Its chain is hasan, and Muhammad bin Ishaq has been corroborated.

Reference / Source: Al-Bayhaqi recorded it (9/ 235) from Abu Abd Allah al-Hakim with this chain.

Reference / Source: Al-Ruyani recorded it in his "Musnad" (690) and (698), al-Tabari in his "Tafsir" (6/ 88 - 89), al-Tahawi in "Ma'ani al-Athar" (4/ 57), al-Tabarani in "al-Kabir" (971) and (972), and al-Wahidi in "Asbab al-Nuzul" (383), by various routes from Musa bin Ubaydah al-Rabadhi, from Aban bin Salih, with the same chain.
Grading: Musa bin Ubaydah, although da'if (weak), is taken into consideration (as corroboration).

Details of the narration: The basis of this hadith about killing dogs has been narrated from Abu Rafi' by more than one route, as is set out in "Musnad Ahmad" (39/ (23865) and 45/ (27188)).