صحیح ابن حبان
Ibn Hibban
كتاب الرقائقBook of Heart-Softeners
باب الخوف والتقوى - ذكر البيان بأن من اتقى الله مما حرم عليه كان هو الكريم دون النسيب الذي يقارف ما حظر عليه
Chapter on Fear and Piety – Clarification that the noble is the one who fears Allah, not the well-born who commits sins
Hadith 648
أَخْبَرَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي مَعْشَرٍ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى الْقَطَّانُ ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، قَالَ : قِيلَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، مَنْ أَكْرَمُ النَّاسِ ؟ قَالَ : " أَتْقَاهُمْ " ، قَالُوا : لَسْنَا عَنْ هَذَا نَسْأَلُكَ ، قَالَ : " فَعَنْ مَعَادِنِ الْعَرَبِ تَسْأَلُونَنِي ؟ خِيَارُكُمْ خِيَارُكُمْ فِي الإِسْلامِ إِذَا فَقِهُوا " .
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: It was asked, "O Messenger of Allah! Who is the most honorable?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one who is the most pious." The people said, "We are not asking you about this." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then are you asking about the chiefs of the Arabs? Those among you who were considered the best in the pre-Islamic period will also be considered the best in Islam, provided they gain understanding (of religious teachings)."
