then He created all creatures and chose from among them the children of Adam; from the children of Adam He chose the Arabs; from the Arabs He chose Muḍar; from Muḍar He chose Quraysh; from Quraysh He chose the Banū Hāshim; and from the Banū Hāshim He chose me. I therefore come from the very best of the best. Whoever loves the Arabs does so out of love for me, and whoever despises the Arabs does so out of hatred for me. (1)
Moreover, on this same question there is the report related by al-Tirmidhī and others through Abū Badr Shujāʿ ibn al-Walīd, from Qābūs ibn Abī Ḍabyān, from his father, from Salmān (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: The Messenger of Allah—may blessings and peace be upon him—said to me, “O Salmān, do not hate me, lest you…”
(1) Al-Hakim records this report in al-Mustadrak, Book of Knowing the Companions, chapter on the merits of the Arab tribes, 4/73–74. Its chain contains Muhammad ibn Dhakwan, who is weak, but the hadith is strengthened by the totality of corroborating reports listed by the author.
(2) MS A reads al-muslima; this is a scribal corruption.
(3) The transmitter is Shujaʿ ibn al-Walid ibn Qays al-Sakuni, Abu Badr, a Kufan of the ninth generation. Ibn Hajar says in Taqrib al-Tahdhib: “reliable and pious, though liable to mistakes.” All six canonical compilers and others narrated from him. He died in 204 AH. See: Taqrib al-Tahdhib 1:347, no. 24 sh.
(4) MS B has Tabiyan; the correct reading is given here. The narrator is Qabus ibn Abi Zibyan al-Janabi al-Kufi. Al-Nasai, al-Daraqutni, Ibn Hibban, Ibn Saʿd and others graded him weak. Ahmad (as reported by his son ʿAbd Allah) said, “He is not strong, though people transmitted from him.” Abu Hatim remarked, “His reports are written down but not adduced as proof.” Ibn Maʿin rated him weak on one occasion and reliable on another. Ibn Hajar summarizes in the Taqrib: “He has some softness; sixth generation.” See: Lisan al-Mizan 7:337, no. 4385 q; Yahya ibn Maʿin, Tarikh, 2:479 (letter qaf), ed. Ahmad Nur Sayf.
(5) This is Husayn ibn Jundub ibn al-Harith ibn Wahsh ibn Malik al-Janabi, Abu Zibyan al-Kufi. He was declared reliable by Ibn Maʿin, al-Nasai, al-ʿIjli, al-Daraqutni, Abu Zurʿa and others. He died in 90 AH. See: Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 2:379–80, no. 654 ḥ.
(6) The preposition li ("for") is missing from the printed edition.