16 – The ḥadīth of Abū Ayyūb al-Anṣārī

It is narrated by Abū Ṣakhr that ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar informed him, from Sālim ibn ʿAbd Allāh, who said: Abū Ayyūb al-Anṣārī told me that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, on the night of the Isrāʾ, passed by Abraham. Abraham asked, “Who is with you, O Gabriel?” He replied, “This is Muḥammad.” Abraham then said, “Instruct your ummah to plant abundantly in Paradise, for its soil is rich and its expanse is vast.” The Prophet said, “And what is the planting of Paradise?” He answered, “la ḥawla wa-la quwwata illā billāh (There is no power and no might except with Allah).”

It was recorded by Aḥmad 5/418, Ibn Jarīr 15/255, and al-Ṭabarānī in al-Kabīr 3898, although the latter two report: “ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, the client of Sālim ibn ʿAbd Allāh, narrated it from Sālim ibn Muḥammad ibn Kaʿb al-Qurazī.” This is a severe discrepancy, and it is most likely attributable to Abū Ṣakhr—whose name is Ḥumayd.