What is the authenticity of the Hadith: "Three supplicate to Allah, but their supplication is not answered: a man who had a wife of bad character but did not divorce her; a man who had money owed to him by another but did not have witnesses to it; and a man who gave his money to a fool"? And are those mentioned therein excused?

The authenticity of the aforementioned Hadith (definition) is disputed: some, like Al-Hakim and Al-Albani, authenticated it, while Al-Hafiz Al-Dhahabi declared it Munkar (denounced). Researching its meaning is secondary to its authentication; if it is not authentic, there is no need to search for its meaning. Those who consider the Hadith authentic have provided an acceptable interpretation.