I read to Ibn ʿAsākir—on the authority of Abū Rūḥ—who informed us: Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl; he informed us: Abū Muḍar Muḥallim ibn Ismāʿīl; he informed us: al-Khalīl ibn Aḥmad; al-Sarrāj related to us; Qutaybah narrated to us; ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Muḥammad narrated to us, from ʿAmr ibn Abī ʿAmr, from al-Maqburī, from Abū Hurayrah:
I said, “Messenger of Allah, who are the people most blessed by your intercession?”
He replied, “I was certain, O Abū Hurayrah, that no one would ask me about this ḥadīth before you, because I have seen how eager you are for ḥadīth. The people most blessed by my intercession on the Day of Resurrection will be those who say, lā ilāha illā Allah (there is no god but Allah), uttering it with complete sincerity.” (1)
Abū al-Aḥwaṣ—from Zayd al-ʿAmmī—from Abū al-Ṣiddīq—from Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī—reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Abū Hurayrah is a vessel of knowledge.” (2)
Ibn Abī Dhiʾb—from al-Maqburī—from Abū Hurayrah—narrated that he said:
“I have preserved from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ two containers of knowledge. One of them I have poured out among the people; as for the other, were I to pour it out, this throat would be cut.” (3)
(1) Its chain of transmission is sound. It was also recorded by Ahmad, 2/373; by al-Bukhari, 1/173 (Book of Knowledge, chapter: Keenness for Hadith) and 11/385 (Book of Heart-softening Reports), through Amr ibn Abi Amr, the client of al-Muttalib, from Saʿid al-Maqburi, from Abu Hurayra. The report is likewise found in Ibn Saʿd, Tabaqat, 4/330, and Ibn ʿAsakir, Tarikh Dimashq, 19/115/2. Concerning the word khalisan (purely), al-Hafiz notes that it excludes the hypocrite. The form afʿal in asʿad is verbal rather than comparative, meaning “the happiest of people,” as in the Qurʾanic phrase wa-ahsanu maqilan (18:31). It could, however, retain its comparative sense: everyone will gain some happiness from his intercession, but the sincere believer will enjoy the greatest share. The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—will intercede: for all mankind to relieve them from the terror of the Gathering; for certain unbelievers to have their punishment reduced, as is authentically established for Abu Talib; for some believers to be released from Hell after having entered it; for others to be spared entry although they deserved it; for some to enter Paradise without reckoning; and for others to attain higher ranks therein. Thus, while all receive some benefit from his intercession, the sincerest believers are the happiest of all.
(2) Reported by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak; the transmitter Zayd al-ʿAmmi is weak.
(3) Reported by al-Bukhari, 1/192–193 (Book of Knowledge, chapter: Preserving Knowledge) through Ismaʿil ibn Abi — (the isnad continues).