3. Narration of Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA)

Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) was the son of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) uncle, Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib (RA). He was born three years before the migration in the Valley of Abu Talib. The incident of the splitting of the moon occurred before his birth. According to a narration recorded in Bukhari and Muslim transmitted by him, he simply stated that the moon split during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The various chains of narration are as follows:

حدثنا يحيى بن بكير، قال: حدثني بكر، عن جعفر، عن عراك بن مالك، عن عبيد الله بن عبد الله بن عتبة بن مسعود، عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما، قال: انشق القمر في زمان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم

Yahya bin Bukair narrated to us, he said that Bakr narrated to me, from him Ja‘far narrated, from him ‘Urwah bin Malik narrated, from him 'Ubaidullah bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Utbah bin Mas‘ud narrated that Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated that during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the moon had split. (Sahih Bukhari No. 4866)

حدثنا موسى بن قريش التميمي، حدثنا إسحاق بن بكر بن مضر، حدثني ابي، حدثنا جعفر بن ربيعة، عن عراك بن مالك، عن عبید الله بن عبد الله بن عتبة بن مسعود، عن ابن عباس، قال: إن القمر انشق على زمان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Musa bin Quraysh bin Al-Tamimi narrated to us, he said that Ishaq bin Bakr bin Mudhar narrated to us, he said that my father narrated to me, they said that Ja‘far bin Rabee‘ah narrated to us, from ‘Irak bin Malik, from Ubaydullah bin Abdullah bin Utbah bin Mas‘ud, who narrated that Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) narrated that during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the moon had split. (Sahih Muslim No. 7257)