Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah likewise narrated it from Abu Usamah. Ibn Asakir transmitted it from him in Tarikh Dimashq (9/557). However, in one version he relates through Abu Dawud: Yahya ibn Ali narrated to us; Abu Usamah narrated the same report to us, adding:

Urwah said: Aishah informed me that Abu Bakr died without leaving behind a dinar or a dirham.

It is therefore apparent that the basis of this report is connected to Aishah. They did not transmit it beyond Urwah because of its well-known transmission from her; thus, some of them mentioned her, including Sa'id ibn Sulayman.

I previously stated that he was the weak al-Nashiti, since Abu Zur'ah narrated from him and because he differed from the trustworthy narrators. It later became clear to me that he was Sa'id ibn Sulayman al-Wasiti, known as Sa'dawayh, who was trustworthy. This is because he is the one listed among the narrators from Abu Usamah—whose name was Hammad ibn Usamah—in al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil (1/2/132) and Tahdhib al-Mizzi (7/220). Moreover, Ibn Hibban declared reliable only this al-Wasiti (8/267), so it is unlikely that he would narrate in his Sahih from his namesake, al-Nashiti. Yet Abu Zur'ah narrated from both of them, and this report of his from Sa'id ibn Sulayman is given without any attribution; that was one of the causes of the error. So praise be to Allah, who guided us to this; and we would not have been guided had Allah not guided us.

Thus, the authenticity of this hadith of Aishah becomes clear, and all praise is due to Allah.

It is supported by the hadith of Abu Hurayrah, attributed to the Prophet:

“No wealth has benefited me as Abu Bakr’s wealth has benefited me.”

Its authentication and sourcing have previously been given under no. 2718.

The hadith under discussion has a corroborating report from Abu Umamah through chains subject to criticism; Ibn Asakir recorded them (9/580–583).