168 - ‘Abdullāh narrated to us: Abū Ma‘mar al-Hudhalī, Ismā‘īl ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Ma‘mar, narrated to me: ‘Abthar Abū Zubayd narrated to us, from Sālim ibn Abī Hafsa and Mutarrif, from ‘Atiyya, from Abū Sa‘īd, from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).

Abū Ma‘mar said: Abū Ismā‘īl also narrated to me, from Mujālid, from Abū al-Waddāk, from Abū Sa‘īd.

Abū Ma‘mar said: Ibn Fudayl also narrated to us, from al-A‘mash, Kathīr al-Nawwā’, and ‘Abdullāh—meaning Ibn Suhbān—from ‘Atiyya, from Abū Sa‘īd, from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), who said:

“The inhabitants of the highest ranks will indeed be seen by those below them, just as you see the brilliant star on the horizon of the sky. Abū Bakr and ‘Umar are indeed among them, and well deserving they are.”