3996 — “The most noble of people are those who are most mindful of Allah.”

Al-Bukhārī (3383, 3490, and 4689), Muslim (7/103), al-Baghawī in Sharḥ al-Sunnah (13/125), and Aḥmad (2/431) all narrated it through Saʿīd ibn Abī Saʿīd—some adding, “from his father”—from Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked, “Who are the most noble of people?” He replied:

“The ones most mindful of Allah.”

They said, “That is not what we are asking you about.” He said:

“Then the noblest of people is Joseph, the Prophet of Allah, son of a Prophet of Allah, son of a Prophet of Allah, son of Allah’s intimate friend.”

They said, “That is not what we are asking you about.” He said:

“Are you asking me about the origins of the Arabs? People are like mines: the best of them in the Age of Ignorance are the best of them in Islam, if they gain understanding.”

Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr corroborated him: Abū Salamah narrated to us from Abū Hurayrah, attributing it to the Prophet, with the wording:

“Indeed, the noble man, son of the noble man, son of the noble man, son of the noble man, is Joseph son of Jacob son of Isaac son of Abraham, the intimate friend of the Most Merciful.”

Aḥmad (2/332 and 416) narrated it.

I say: Its chain of transmission is good.

A corroborating report is the hadith of Ibn ʿUmar, may Allah be pleased with them both, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who said: … Then he mentioned it with similar wording.

Al-Bukhārī (3382, 3390, and 4688) and Aḥmad (2/96) narrated it.