It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that it was said to him: "You have praised Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) very highly?" He said: "What could prevent me from that, when I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'Read the Qur'an from four men: Abdullah bin Mas'ud, Salim the freed slave of Abu Hudhayfah, Ubayy bin Ka'b and Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with them).' Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'I intended to send them to the nations, just as Isa (peace be upon him) sent the disciples.' It was said: 'O Messenger of Allah, will you not send Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both)? They are more virtuous.' He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'I cannot do without the two of them; these two are to this religion like hearing and sight to the head.'"
Imam al-Tabarani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "No one narrated this hadith from Nafi' except Hamzah bin Abi Hamzah."
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الأوسط / باب القاف / 4999
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:منكر، فيه حماد بن عمر النصيبي متروك
Hadith Takhrij«قال الهيثمي: فيه حماد بن عمر النصيبي وهو متروك «مجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد، ج 9، ص 156»» «قال ابن عدي: منكرة ليس يرويها غير حمزة عن نافع «الكامل في الضعفاء، ج 3، ص 265»» «قال الهيثمي: وفيه راو لم يسم «مجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد، ج 9، ص 52»» «أخرجه الطبراني فى «الكبير» برقم: 14139»