Musnad Ahmad 495:3

Husayn ibn Muhammad narrated to us, Yazid ibn ‘Ata’ narrated to us, from Yazid, from ‘Abdullah ibn al-Harith ibn Nawfal, from ‘Abd al-Muttalib ibn Rabi‘ah ibn al-Harith ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, who said: Some people from the Ansar came to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and said: "We hear from your people until one of them says: 'The likeness of Muhammad is only like a date palm that grew in a rubbish heap.'" (Husayn said: The *kaba* is the rubbish heap). The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "O people, who am I?" They said: "You are the Messenger of Allah." He said: "I am Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib." (He said: We never heard him attribute his lineage before that). "Know that Allah created His creation, and He placed me among the best of His creation. Then He divided them into two groups, and He placed me in the best of the two groups. Then He made them into tribes, and He placed me in the best of them as a tribe. Then He made them into households, and He placed me in the best of them as a household. And I am the best of you in household and the best of you in soul."