Sahih Muslim Book: 5, Hadith: 439

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ دِينَارٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ الْوَاسِطِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ الْهَيْثَمِ أَبُو قَطَنٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ خِلاَسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏”‏ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ – أَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ – مَا فِي الصَّفِّ الْمُقَدَّمِ لَكَانَتْ قُرْعَةً ‏”‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ ابْنُ حَرْبٍ ‏”‏ الصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ مَا كَانَتْ إِلاَّ قُرْعَةً ‏”‏ ‏.‏ Abu Huraira reported:The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: If you were to know, or if they were to know, what (excellence) lies in the first rows, there would have been drawing of lots (for filling them) ; and Ibn Harb said: For (occupying) the first row there would have been drawing of lots. Chain : Ibrahim bin Dinar al-Bghdady – Muhammad bin Harb al-Wasti – Shu’bah bin al-Hajjaj – Qatada – Khalas bin ‘Amr al-Hajri – Abu Rafi’ – Abu Hurairah ...