Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 3688 — Surah Fatir

It is narrated from Uqbah bin Suhban al-Huna'i that he said: I asked the Mother of the Believers, Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), about this saying of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic: "Then We caused to inherit the Book those whom We chose from Our servants" [Surah Fatir: 32], and she said to me: "O my dear son! All of these (all three groups) are in Paradise. As for 'the one who is foremost in good deeds' (al-sabiq bil-khayrat), they are those holy souls who departed from this world in the blessed time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) testified for them of (the) life (of Paradise) and provision. As for 'the one who is moderate' (al-muqtasid), they are those noble Companions who followed his (peace and blessings be upon him) footsteps completely until they joined him. And as for 'the one who wrongs himself' (al-zalim li-nafsih), it is people like me and like you." Uqbah said: Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) counted herself (out of perfect humility and modesty) with us (in the third category).
Abu Dawud (may Allah have mercy on him) said: al-Salt bin Dinar Abu Shu'ayb narrated this hadith to us through Uqbah bin Suhban al-Huna'i.