It has another chain, documented in al-Jana’iz (pp. 136–137) and al-Irwa’ (no. 760). Al-Hafiz, in Fath al-Bari (4/234), attributed the first part of the hadith to Ahmad and made no comment, thereby indicating that he regarded it as strengthened. It has supporting reports, some of which have preceded under nos. 980, 981, and 1014. It plainly indicates that it is not permissible to fast on Friday by itself, even if it coincides with a virtuous day such as Ashura or Arafah—contrary to al-Hafiz. I have discussed this matter at length above; see hadith no. 2398.

2946 — “Do not combine my name and kunyah (honorific appellation): [I am Abu al-Qasim; Allah gives, and I distribute].”

It was recorded by al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad, al-Tirmidhi (2843), Ibn Hibban (5784, al-Ihsan), Ahmad (2/433), Ibn Sa‘d in al-Tabaqat (1/106 and 107), al-Dulabi in al-Kuna (1/5), Abu Nu‘aym in al-Hilyah (7/91), and al-Bayhaqi in al-Dala’il (1/163), all through Ibn ‘Ajlan, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah, in a report attributed to the Prophet. The addition is found in al-Bukhari; in one version of Ibn Hibban (5787); in Ahmad; and in al-Bayhaqi. It is likewise found in another version of Ibn Hibban (5785) and in al-Tirmidhi, though in an abbreviated wording: “and he calls him Muhammad Abu al-Qasim.” He said: “A good, authentic hadith.”

I say: It is as he said, for its chain of transmission is good. It also has a supporting report through Sufyan, from ‘Abd al-Karim al-Jazari, from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi ‘Amrah, from his uncle, attributed to the Prophet with the same wording, but without the addition.