Masruq narrates: I examined the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and I found that their knowledge culminated in six persons: Sayyiduna Umar, Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud, Sayyiduna Mu'adh, Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda' and Sayyiduna Zayd bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with them). Then I examined these six persons, and the knowledge of these men culminated in Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him).
Al-Tabarani recorded it, and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih, except al-Qasim bin Ma'in, whose case is different, and he is thiqah (trustworthy).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب المناقب / 14943
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسنادہ صحیح۔
Hadith Takhrij«اخرجه الطبراني فى المعجم الكبير (8513)»