al-Dalāʾil (The Proofs), through al-Hakim’s route; Ibn Kathir then made no comment on it. This was because of the corroborating reports to which we referred above. I have cited the hadith only because it mentions the reason Abu Bakr was named al-Siddiq; otherwise, the rest of it is mass-transmitted and authentically established through the routes of a number of Companions. Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir cited many of these extensively at the beginning of his exegesis of Surat al-Isra. Let us therefore mention here the corroborating reports for this addition:
The first is from Shaddad ibn Aws, in a report attributed to the Prophet:
“I performed the night prayer with my Companions in Mecca, after night had fallen, when Gabriel, peace be upon him, came to me with a white mount—or, he said, a white one …” The hadith continues, including: “Abu Bakr said: ‘I bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.’ The polytheists said: ‘Look at the son of Abu Kabshah! He claims that he came to Jerusalem tonight!’” … to the end of the hadith.
Ibn Abi Hatim and al-Bayhaqi recorded it. Al-Bayhaqi said: “This is an authentic chain of transmission.”
The second is from Ibn Shihab, from Abu Salamah ibn Abd al-Rahman, who said concerning the account of the Night Journey:
“Some men of Quraysh made their way—or words to that effect—to Abu Bakr and said: ‘What do you make of your companion, who claims that he went to Jerusalem and then returned to Mecca in a single night?’ Abu Bakr said: ‘Did he say that?’ They replied: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Then I bear witness that, if he said it, he has spoken the truth.’ They said: ‘Do you believe him when he says that he went to Syria in one night and then returned to Mecca before morning?’ He said: ‘Yes. I believe him concerning what is even more extraordinary than that: I believe him regarding the report from heaven.’” Abu Salamah said: “Abu Bakr was named al-Siddiq.”
I say: This is an authentic mursal chain, and a strong corroborating report for the connected narration of Aishah.
The third is from Abu Mashar, who said: Abu Wahb, the freedman of Abu Hurayrah, informed us: