Ahmad recorded it (1/394 and 418), as did al-Nasāʾī in al-Sunan al-Kubrā (11531), Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Jarīr, al-Ṭabarānī in al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr (The Great Dictionary) (9/245/9050), Abū al-Shaykh (2/766/341), and Ibn Mandah in Faith (2/731/751).

This chain meets the criteria of the two Shaykhs—were it not for Abū Isḥāq’s confusion in his later years and his use of an unexplicitly connected transmission formula. Isrāʾīl heard from him after that confusion. However, in a version cited by Ibn Mandah (752), Sufyān corroborated him in narrating it from Abū Isḥāq.

Sufyān—namely al-Thawrī—heard from him before the confusion.

It has another route from Ibn Masʿūd, narrated by Shuʿbah, Sufyān as well, and others. It is found in Ibn Khuzaymah, al-Ṭabarānī (9051 and 9053), Ibn Mandah (747–750), and Ahmad as well (1/449). Ibn Khuzaymah’s wording is:

“He saw a green drapery that covered the horizon of the sky.”

Its chain is authentic.

It also has a supporting report from the hadith of ʿĀʾishah, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“I saw Gabriel, peace be upon him, descending and filling all that lay between heaven and earth. He was wearing silken garments, with pearls and rubies suspended from him.”

Ahmad recorded it (6/120): ʿAffān related to us; Ḥammād related to us, saying: ʿAṭāʾ ibn al-Sāʾib informed us, from al-Shaʿbī, from Masrūq, from her.

Abū al-Shaykh also recorded it through this route (no. 343).

This is an authentic chain, provided that Ḥammād—namely Ibn Salamah—heard it from ʿAṭāʾ before the latter’s confusion; otherwise, it is a strong supporting report for what has preceded.