The narration numbered Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah is a report concerning the transition of the early Islamic leadership from the Caliphate to kingship. The Narration Content The text is a conversation between Sa'id ibn Jumhan and the Companion Safinah (ra) regarding the Umayyad dynasty's claim to the Caliphate. Arabic Text:
Unlike a Sahih (which only contains authentic narrations) or a Sunan (which focuses on legal traditions), a Musannaf organizes Hadiths topically by Fiqh (jurisprudence). The Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah is a massive collection covering: musannaf ibn abi shaybah 37157
Arabic Text: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ: قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ: لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي سَادِسَ سِتَّةٍ، مَا عَلَى ظَهْرِ الأَرْضِ مُسْلِمٌ غَيْرُنَا. The narration numbered Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah is
In the standard enumerations of the Musannaf, the hadiths surrounding the number 37157 are located in the "Book of the Merits of the Prophet" (Kitab Fada'il al-Nabi) or the sections dealing with his illness and passing. The narrative chain typically relates the emotional final moments of the Prophet’s life. A representative narration found in this section—often cited in discussions of this number—is the tradition where the Prophet acknowledges his imminent death. The Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah is a
In other words, the chain in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 37157, as transmitted via Sufyan al-Thawri, is not a continuous chain back to the Prophet. This is a critical point often missed by casual readers.
The inclusion of this hadith highlights Ibn Abi Shaybah’s specific methodology. As a teacher of Imam al-Bukhari and a contemporary of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ibn Abi Shaybah operated in an era where the compilation of Hadith was transitioning from oral preservation to written codification. His approach in the Musannaf was not merely to collect authentic narrations, but to document the legal reasoning (Ijtihad) of the early generations.
Misconception 2: "Because the chain is broken, the entire concept of 'two qullas' is invalid." Fact: False. As mentioned, Sahih versions exist via Ibn Umar (RA) in Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and others. The Musannaf’s version is supplemental.