“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, ‘Who are the best of people?’ He replied, ‘Those most beneficial to people.’”

Abu Ishaq al-Muzakki recorded it in al-Fawa'id al-Muntakhabah (Selected Benefits) (1/147/2), through Khunays ibn Bakr ibn Khunays: “My father, Bakr ibn Khunays, related to me from Abdullah ibn Dinar, from him [Ibn Umar].”

I say: Regarding Khunays ibn Bakr, Salih Jazrah said: “Weak.” Ibn Hibban mentioned him in al-Thiqat (The Reliable Narrators).

Ibrahim ibn Abd al-Hamid al-Jarashi corroborated him, reporting: “Bakr ibn Khunays informed us,” with the same chain. Ibn Asakir recorded it (11/444/1).

I believe that this Ibrahim is the one mentioned in al-Jarh wa-al-Ta'dil (Narrator Criticism and Accreditation) (1/1/113):

“Ibrahim ibn Abd al-Hamid, Abu Ishaq: he narrated from Dawud ibn Amr, and al-Walid ibn Muslim narrated from him. Abu Zur'ah said: ‘He appears to have been from Homs; there is nothing objectionable about him.’”

I say: Thus, through this corroboration, the chain is good, because Bakr ibn Khunays was truthful but made mistakes, as al-Hafiz stated. Jabir’s hadith also supports it. Sakin ibn Abi Siraj likewise corroborated him, reporting: “Amr ibn Dinar informed us,” with similar wording.

Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir (The Great Lexicon) (3/209/2).

However, this Sakin is not well known. It later became clear to me that he is accused; see hadith 903.

In sum, this addition to the hadith is established at the level of good, like its original wording—or even stronger. Al-Hafiz al-Sakhawi also regarded it as strengthened in al-Maqasid.