the narration of the people of al-Shām from him, and this is among them; because it is with Aḥmad from the narration of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān from him—who is Ibn Mahdī—and with al-Bayhaqī from the narration of Yaḥyá ibn Abī Bukayr, the first being from Baṣrah, and the latter from Yamāmah. And through this route: it was extracted by Ibn Abī Shaybah in "al-Muṣannaf" (11/434/11693), and by al-Bayhaqī in "al-Dalāʾil" also (5/472), and it was attributed by the commentator to "Musnad Aḥmad" (1/301)! And the number is incorrect. Zuhayr was followed up; Aḥmad said (1/158): Abū Saʿīd narrated to us: Saʿīd ibn Salamah ibn Abī al-Ḥassām narrated to us: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAqīl narrated from Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī al-Akbar with it. (Note): It is noticeable that there is no difference between the narration of Zuhayr and the narration of Saʿīd ibn Salamah, and Ibn Abī Ḥātim mentioned in "al-ʿIlal" (2/399/2705) a difference quoting Abū Zurʿah; and I do not think that is correct, so perhaps he made an error in the narration. I had pointed out in "al-Irwāʾ" (1/317) to this difference or confusion attributed to Ibn Abī Ḥātim before this verification became available to me; so it necessitated the clarification. Then indeed the ḥadīth is authentic; for most of its segments have appeared in many authentic ḥadīths, and I extracted it in "al-Irwāʾ" (1/315-317). And the segment: "And I was named Aḥmad" is supported by the ḥadīths "I am Muḥammad, and Aḥmad..." the ḥadīth; and some of it is extracted in "al-Rawḍ al-Naḍīr" (401 and 1017). Greater than that is the testimony of the Noble Quran on the tongue of ʿĪsá (peace be upon him): (And giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Aḥmad) (Sūrah al-Ṣaff, verse 6). And likewise the segment: "The best of nations" is supported by His saying (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam): (You are the best nation brought forth for mankind...) the verse (Sūrah Āl ʿImrān, verse 110)