3496 — “If you criticize his appointment to command—meaning Usamah ibn Zayd—then you had previously criticized his father’s appointment to command. By Allah, he was indeed worthy of it; and by Allah, he was indeed among the people most beloved to me. And by Allah, this one—meaning Usamah ibn Zayd—is indeed worthy of it; and by Allah, he is indeed among those most beloved to me after him. So I urge you to treat him well, for he is among your righteous men.”

It was recorded by Muslim (7/131), Ibn Sad (4/66), and Ahmad (2/89 and 106), through Salim, from his father, that the Messenger of Allah said this while on the pulpit; and he related it.

Abdullah ibn Dinar also narrated it from Abdullah ibn Umar, but without its final words: “So I urge you to treat him well …”

It was recorded by al-Bukhari (3730, 4250, 4469, 6627, and 7187), Muslim (7/131), Ibn Hibban (7004 and 7019), al-Tirmidhi (3816)—who graded it authentic—Ibn Sad (4/65), al-Bayhaqi (3/128, 8/154, and 10/44), and Ahmad (2/10 and 110), all through Abdullah ibn Dinar, from him. *

3497 — “If this boy lives, old age may not overtake him before the Hour comes.”

This is established from the hadiths of Anas and Aishah.

As for the hadith of Anas, it has several routes:

The first: Hammad ibn Salamah narrated from Thabit al-Bunani, from Anas ibn Malik, that a man asked the Messenger of Allah, “When will the Hour come?” There was a young boy from the Ansar with him, called Muhammad, so the Messenger of Allah said to him: … and he related it.