Ibn Abī Ḥātim also recorded the report—as cited in Ibn Kathīr’s Tafsīr—and remarked, “This isnarration contains some truly astonishing peculiarities.”

I add: its defect lies in Khālid ibn Yazīd, for he is weak despite being a jurist, and Ibn Maʿīn even charged him, as noted in al-Taqrīb.

Fourth chain: from Ḥumayd, from Anas, who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“[When] I reached the Sidrat al-Muntahā, its fruits were like great jars and its leaves like the ears of elephants. Then, when it was enshrouded by what Allah decreed to cover it, it turned into ruby, or emerald, or something of that sort.”

Aḥmad recorded it (3/128): Muḥammad ibn Abī ʿAdī narrated to us, from Ḥumayd, with this chain.

This is a three-link chain that is sound according to the criteria of the Two Shaykhs.

Ibn Abī ʿĀṣim likewise transmitted it in al-Sunnah, 591 (in my critical edition; the two additional phrases are his), and Ibn Jarīr in his Tafsīr, 27/53. This route of transmission escaped the attention of al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr, and later of al-Suyūṭī as well!

Aḥmad then narrated—3/103—with the same chain, from Anas, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: