Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Hamzah bin Suhaib narrates from his father, who says: Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to Sayyiduna Suhaib (may Allah be pleased with him): "You are a very good man, if only you did not have three (inappropriate) qualities." Sayyiduna Suhaib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "What are they?" Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "You have adopted a kunyah (patronymic name), even though you have no children; you attribute yourself to the Arabs, even though you are a Roman; and you are extravagant in feeding people." Sayyiduna Suhaib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "As for your objection that I have adopted a kunyah even though I have no son, (the answer is that) the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) himself gave me the kunyah Abu Yahya. As for your second objection that I have attributed myself to the Arabs even though I am not one of them, but rather a Roman, (the answer is that) I am from the tribe of Namar bin Qasit. The Romans captured me from Mosul when I was a youth, and I knew my lineage. And as for your objection that I am extravagant in feeding people, I myself heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'The best among you is the one who feeds others.'"