Compiled by Imam Muhammad al-Bukhari
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، سَمِعَ الْمُعْتَمِرَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قِيلَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 الإِسْلاَمِ إِذَا فَقِهُوا ".
Some people asked the Prophet: "Who is the most honorable amongst the people?" He replied, "The most honorable among them is the one who is the most Allah-fearing." They said, "O Allah's Prophet! We do not ask about this." He said, "Then the most honorable person is Joseph, Allah's Prophet, the son of Allah's Prophet, the son of Allah's Prophet, the son of Allah's Khalil." They said, "We do not ask about this." He said, "Then you want to ask me about the Arabs' descent?" They said, "Yes." He said, "Those who were best in the pre-lslamic period, are the best in Islam, if they comprehend (the religious knowledge).