It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A man's nobility is his taqwa (piety), his manliness (muru'ah) is his intellect, and his lineage (hasab) is his character."
Imam al-Tabarani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Only Abu Ghassan (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated this hadith from Ibn Ajlan (may Allah have mercy on him)."
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الأوسط / باب الميم / 6686
Hadith Takhrij«أخرجه ابن حبان فى «صحيحه» برقم: 483، والحاكم فى «المستدرك» برقم: 424، 425، 2706، والبيهقي فى «السنن الكبرى» برقم: 13890، 20867، والدارقطني فى «سننه» برقم: 3804، وأحمد فى «مسنده» برقم: 8895، وأبو يعلى فى «مسنده» برقم: 6451»