Muslim (7/76), Abu Dawud (3126), Ibn Hibban in his Sahih (4/245/2891), al-Bayhaqi (4/69), Ahmad (3/194), Ibn Saʿd (1/136), and Abu Yaʿla (6/42/3288) all recorded it. Al-Bukhari also cited it in suspended form in the Book of Funerals, following another narration of his (1303), in an abridged form of this report, without giving its wording. Thus, al-Suyuti’s attribution in al-Jamiʿ of the Prophet’s saying, peace and blessings be upon him, “A son was born to me tonight …” to al-Bukhari as well is plainly open to objection—though al-Ghumari followed him in this in his Kanz, as is his habit, and al-Manawi failed to notice it. This portion of the hadith was also recorded by al-Tahawi in Mushkil al-Athar (1/454).

Note: The esteemed commentator on Musnad Abu Yaʿla overlooked the fact that ʿAmr ibn Saʿid transmitted the hadith under discussion as a mursal report (with the Companion omitted from its chain), when he said, “Its chain of transmission is authentic.” He then attributed it to Muslim and others. He should instead have distinguished between the hadith under discussion and the report preceding it, as explained above.

Since this is the case, a corroborating report that strengthens and supports it must be cited. This is the hadith of al-Baraʾ ibn ʿAzib, who said: “Ibrahim, the Prophet’s son, died at sixteen months of age, and he said: ‘Bury him in al-Baqiʿ, for he has a wet nurse who will complete his nursing in Paradise.’” Ahmad recorded it (4/297 and 304), as did Ibn ʿAsakir in Tarikh Dimashq (1/215/1), through an authentic chain meeting the criteria of al-Bukhari and Muslim. Abu Yaʿla also recorded it (1696) through another chain from him, authentic according to Muslim’s criteria.

It also appears in Sahih al-Bukhari (1382, 3255, and 6195) and elsewhere through a third route from him, with similar wording but without its first part. It has been documented in the other series under hadith 3202, for it has been transmitted with additional wording, some of which is not authentic. I therefore traced it there, distinguishing what is authentic among those additions from what is not. I mentioned this among the authentic material, and with Allah lies success.