Abu al-Huwayrith said: I heard Abd al-Malik bin Marwan say to Sayyiduna Qubath bin Ashyam al-Laythi (may Allah be pleased with him): "O Qubath! Are you greater (akbar), or the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?" He said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is greater than me, and I am older than him in age. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was born in the Year of the Elephant, and he was honoured with prophethood forty years after the Year of the Elephant."
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / باب القاف / 16125