Abu Huraira reported: It was said to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “Which people are the most noble?” The Prophet said, “The most noble to Allah are the most righteous.” They said, “That is not what we are asking about.” The Prophet said, “The most noble of people was Joseph, the prophet of Allah, son of the prophet of Allah, son of the friend of Allah.” They said, “That is not what we are asking about.” The Prophet said, “Are you asking about the Arabs?” They said yes. The Prophet said, “The best of you in the time of ignorance are the best of you in Islam, if you have understanding.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3374, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2378
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قِيلَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ أَكْرَمُ النَّاسِ قَالَ أَكْرَمُهُمْ أَتْقَاهُمْ قَالُوا يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ لَيْسَ عَنْ هَذَا نَسْأَلُكَ قَالَ فَأَكْرَمُ النَّاسِ يُوسُفُ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ابْنُ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ابْنِ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ابْنِ خَلِيلِ اللَّهِ قَالُوا لَيْسَ عَنْ هَذَا نَسْأَلُكَ قَالَ فَعَنْ مَعَادِنِ الْعَرَبِ تَسْأَلُونِي قَالُوا نَعَمْ قَالَ فَخِيَارُكُمْ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ خِيَارُكُمْ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ إِذَا فَقُهُوا
3374 صحيح البخاري كتاب أحاديث الأنبياء باب أم كنتم شهداء إذ حضر يعقوب الموت إذ قال لبنيه الآية
2378 صحيح مسلم كتاب الفضائل باب من فضائل يوسف عليه السلام