Musnad Abu Ya'la al-Mawsili 160:167

Abu Kurayb narrated to us, 'Abdah narrated to us, from 'Ubayd Allah ibn 'Umar, from Sa'id ibn Abi Sa'id, from Abu Hurayrah: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was asked, "Which of the people is the most noble?" He said, "The most noble of them in the sight of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, is the most God-fearing of them." They said, "It is not this that we are asking you about, O Messenger of Allah." He said, "Then the most noble of the people is Yusuf, the Prophet of Allah, the son of the Prophet of Allah, the son of the Prophet of Allah, the son of the Friend of Allah." They said, "Yes." He said, "Then the best of them in the Pre-Islamic Period (Jahiliyyah) are the best of them in Islam, if they attain understanding (fiqh)."