Another point favouring this view is that Imam Ahmad included this hadith in his Musnad, as mentioned above. This indicates to the knowledgeable reader that Ibn Abī ʿUmayrah was regarded by him as a Companion; otherwise, he would not have included it, since it would have been mursal rather than a report with a continuous chain to the Prophet.

The hadith also has another route, narrated by ʿAmr ibn Wāqid, from Yūnus ibn Ḥalbas, from Abū Idrīs al-Khawlānī, from ʿUmayr ibn Saʿd al-Anṣārī, who said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say”—and he then mentioned it.

It was recorded by al-Tirmidhī and Ibn ʿAsākir. Al-Tirmidhī said: “It is a singular hadith, and ʿAmr ibn Wāqid is considered weak.” Ibn ʿAsākir then narrated it through al-Walīd ibn Sulaymān, from ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, attributing it to the Prophet in the same wording. He said: “Al-Walīd ibn Sulaymān did not live to meet ʿUmar.” In sum, the hadith is authentic, and these routes further reinforce its strength.

1970 — “Go to Abū Bakr, so that he may relate to you the accounts of the people, their days, and their lineages; then satirize them, for Gabriel is with you.”

Al-Ḥākim recorded it (3/488–489) through Ḥātim ibn Abī Ṣaghīrah, Abū Yūnus al-Qushayrī, from Simāk ibn Ḥarb, who attributed the hadith to the Prophet; and through Jābir, from al-Suddī, from al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came, and it was said: “O Messenger of Allah, Abū Sufyān ibn al-Ḥārith ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib is satirizing you.” Ibn Rawāḥah rose and said: “O Messenger of Allah, grant me leave to answer him.” He said: “Are you the one who says: ‘May Allah make firm …’?” He replied: “Yes. I said, O Messenger of Allah:

‘May Allah firmly preserve the goodness He has bestowed upon you, as He made Moses firm, and grant a victory like that which they were granted.’”