It is narrated from Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him): I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) when he (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Do you know who among the people of faith is the most excellent in faith?" The Companions said: "O Messenger of Allah! The angels." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "They are indeed so, and it is their due; and what could prevent them (from complete faith) when Allah Almighty has placed them in the lofty rank in which He has placed them? Rather, it is others besides them." We said: "O Messenger of Allah! The prophets." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "They are indeed so, and it is their due; rather, it is others besides them." We said: "O Messenger of Allah! Who are they?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "They are people who will come after me; they are still in the loins of men. They will believe in me though they have not seen me, and they will find (written) hanging pages and act upon what is written in them. These are the most excellent of the people of faith in faith." In another narration he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Tell me who among the believers is the most excellent in faith?" The Companions said: "The angels." He (peace and blessings be upon him) gave the same reply. Then they said: "The prophets whom Allah Almighty honoured with His message and prophethood." He (peace and blessings be upon him) gave the same reply. Then the Companions said: "O Messenger of Allah! The martyrs who were martyred alongside the prophets." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "They are indeed so, and it is their due; what could prevent them when Allah Almighty has honoured them with martyrdom alongside the prophets? Rather, it is others besides them." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned those people who are still in the loins of their forefathers, to the end of the hadith.
The narrator Muhammad bin Abi Humayd in its chain is da'if (weak) in hadith and his memory is poor. Ishaq, Abu Ya'la and Abu Musa Muhammad narrated this report through different chains, but all through Muhammad bin Abi Humayd.
Hadith Referenceالمطالب العالية بزوائد المسانيد الثمانية / كتاب الإيمان والتوحيد / 2922
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده ضعيف
Hadith Takhrij«حکم الحدیث المطالب العالیہ محققاً تنسیق د. سعد بن ناصر بن عبد العزيز الشَّثري- مکتبہ شاملہ :قال ابن حجر: مُحَمَّدٌ ضَعِيفُ الْحَدِيثِ ، سَيِّئُ الْحِفْظِ . » «أخرجه مجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد برقم: 16689، وأخرجه إتحاف الخيرة المهرة بزوائد المسانيد العشرة برقم: 73/1، 7017»