2354 – ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿUmar informed us, by authorisation; he said: Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Yaʿqūb informed us; he said: Yaʿqūb narrated to us; he said: al-Ḥasan ibn al-Ḥakam narrated to us; he said: Abū Badr ⦗1325⦘ narrated to us; he said: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Zubayd, from Ṭalḥah ibn Muṣarrif, from Muṣʿab ibn Saʿd, from Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ, who said:
“People fall into three ranks. Two of those ranks have passed and one remains; the finest state you can be in is to hold fast to the one that remains.”
He then recited:
“For the poor Emigrants who were expelled from their homes and their possessions, seeking bounty from Allah and His approval…” [al-Hashr: 8]
“These,” he said, “are the Emigrants; that is one rank.”
Then he recited:
“And those who settled in the city and embraced the faith before them, loving those who emigrated to them, finding no desire in their hearts for what they have been given, and preferring them over themselves even though they are in need…”
He said, “These are the Helpers, and that rank has passed.”
Then he recited:
“And those who come after them say, ‘Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not place in our hearts any rancour toward those who believe. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind, Merciful.’”
He concluded, “Those two have passed and this rank remains; the best thing you can do is to adhere to this remaining rank,” meaning: to seek forgiveness for them.