It is also recorded by Muslim (6/170–171), except that he said: “So he named him Muhammad, and we said, ‘We will not give you the kunyah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him...’”
In my view, al-Bukhari’s version is more preponderant, since it accords with the report of Ibn al-Munkadir, reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim, cited earlier. Moreover, had he named him Muhammad, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would not have instructed him to name him Abd al-Rahman, as is apparent.
The point is that this hadith of Jabir explicitly indicates that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not approve of the Ansari’s adopting his kunyah, and that he approved of the Ansar’s objection to it. Thus, the implication of the reports of Abu al-Zubayr and Sharik—that it is permissible to adopt his kunyah alone, without coupling it with his name—is invalidated.
I also came across another hadith, though its chain of transmission warrants examination. I cite it in order to clarify its status. Yaqub ibn Muhammad al-Zuhri said: Idris ibn Muhammad ibn Yunus ibn Muhammad ibn Anas ibn Fadala al-Ansari, then al-Zafari, narrated to us: “My grandfather narrated to me from his father, who said: ‘The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, arrived in Medina when I was two weeks old. I was brought to him, and he stroked my head and said: “Name him after me, but do not give him my kunyah.” He took me with him on the Farewell Pilgrimage, when I was ten years old and had a lock of hair.’”
Yunus ibn Muhammad said: “My father lived until all his hair turned gray, yet the place on his head touched by the hand of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, did not turn gray.”
Al-Bukhari recorded it in al-Tarikh (History) (1/16), al-Dulabi in al-Kuna (Kunyahs) (1/5), and al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir (the Great Dictionary) (19/244/547). I say: This is a weak chain of transmission. Concerning this Yaqub, al-Hafiz said: “Truthful, but frequently mistaken and narrates from weak narrators.”