(* The answer is that this hadith *) (1) is a fabricated falsehood, by the unanimous agreement of hadith scholars. (2) It is not found in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Ahmad did compile a book on the virtues of the Companions in which he mentioned the merits of Abū Bakr, Umar, Uthmān, Alī, and a number of other Companions. He included therein both sound and weak reports narrated on the subject, for purposes of documentation. (3) Thus, not everything he narrated is sound.

Moreover, this book contains additions from the transmissions (4) of his son Abd Allāh, as well as additions transmitted by al-Qatī‘ī from his teachers. Most of the additions made by al-Qatī‘ī are lies, as will be explained through some examples later, Allah willing. (5) Al-Qatī‘ī’s teachers narrate from people of Ahmad’s generation.

These Rāfidīs are ignorant: whenever they see a hadith in the book, they assume that Ahmad ibn Hanbal was the one who reported it, whereas the one reporting it may actually be al-Qatī‘ī, transmitting it from a man who was one of his teachers and who narrated from people of Ahmad’s generation. Likewise, the Musnad contains additions made by Ahmad’s son Abd Allāh, (6) especially in the Musnad of Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with him—(7) to which he made numerous additions.