43. The Book of Virtues
٤٣۔ كتاب الفضائل
The most honorable people are the ones who are most God-conscious and God-fearing
The people said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Who is the most honorable amongst the people (in Allah's Sight)?" He said, "The most righteous amongst them." They said, "We do not ask you, about this. " He said, "Then Joseph, Allah's Prophet, the son of Allah's Prophet, The son of Allah's Prophet the son of Allah's Khalil (i.e. Abraham)." They said, "We do not want to ask about this," He said, "Then you want to ask about the descent of the Arabs. Those who were the best in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance will be the best in Islam provided they comprehend the religious knowledge."
قِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَكْرَمُ النَّاسِ؟ قَالَ: «أَتْقَاهُمْ۔» فَقَالُوا: لَيْسَ عَنْ هَذَا نَسْأَلُكَ۔ قَالَ: «فَيُوسُفُ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ابْنُ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ابْنِ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ابْنِ خَلِيلِ اللَّهِ۔» قَالُوا: لَيْسَ عَنْ هَذَا نَسْأَلُكَ۔ قَالَ: «فَعَنْ مَعَادِنِ الْعَرَبِ تَسْأَلُونَ، خِيَارُهُمْ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ خِيَارُهُمْ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ إِذَا فَقُهُوا۔»