Another chain of transmission:
Al-Ṭabarānī said, “So-and-so related to us… (1).”
A further chain:
Imām Aḥmad said, “Muʿammar ibn Sulaymān al-Raqī Abū ʿAbd Allāh narrated to us; Ziyād ibn Khaythamah narrated to us, from ʿAlī ibn al-Nuʿmān ibn Qurād, from a man, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar, that the Prophet ﷺ said:
‘I was given the choice between intercession, or that half of my community enter Paradise. I chose the intercession, for it is broader and more adequate. Do you imagine it is for those already purified? No; it is for those who are defiled and prone to error.’ (2)
Ziyād added, “True, the wording is ungrammatical, but this is exactly how our transmitter reported it to us.” (3)
Ibn Abī al-Dunyā likewise recorded it through al-Ḥasan ibn ʿArafah, from ʿAbd al-Salām ibn Ḥarb, from Nuʿmān ibn Qurād, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar … and related it in similar terms. I have seen it thus in the book Al-Ahwāl, and al-Bayhaqī also cited it in Al-Baʿth wa’l-Nushūr through the route of al-Ḥasan ibn ʿArafah. (4)
The narration of ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (may Allah be pleased with him):
Muslim said, “Yūnus ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā al-Ṣadafī narrated to us; Ibn Wahb informed us; ʿAmr ibn al-Ḥārith informed me that Bakr ibn Sawādah narrated to him, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Jubayr, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited Allah’s words about Abraham ﷺ: ‘My Lord, they have indeed led many of mankind astray; so whoever follows me is truly of me…’ (Q 14:36), and Jesus’ words: ‘If You punish them, they are Your servants; but if You forgive them, You are the Mighty, the Wise’ (Q 5:118). He then raised his hands and said, ‘O Allah, my community, my community,’ and he wept.
Allah, Exalted is He, said, ‘O Gabriel, go to Muhammad—and your Lord knows best—and ask him: What makes you weep?’ So Gabriel —peace be upon him—went to him and asked. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ informed him of what he had said, though Allah knew best.
Allah said, ‘O Gabriel, go back to Muhammad and tell him: We shall certainly please you concerning your community, and We shall not cause you grief.’ (5)