Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 34624 — Reports on the virtue of Kufah

Hubbah al-Urani (may Allah have mercy on him) said that Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O people of Kufa! You are the foundation of the Arabs and their noble tribe, and my arrow which I shoot if anything comes at me from here and there. And indeed I have sent Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) to you, and I chose him for you, and in his matter I gave you preference over myself."