Is this an authentic narration?
جاء أسود إلى سعيد بن المسيب يسأل، فقال له سعيد: لا تحزن من أجل أنك أسود، فإنه كان من خير الناس ثلاثة من السودان: بِلال، ومهجِّع مولى عمر بن الخطاب، ولقمان الحكيم كان أسود
Answer
Imam Tabari (rahimahullah) has recorded this statement of the great Tabi’i, Sa’id ibn Al Musayyab (rahimahullah). The incident is suitable to quote.
(Tafsir Tabari; Jami’ul Bayan and Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Luqman, Verse: 12. Also see: Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 3 pg. 284)
Translation
A dark skinned person once came to Sa’id ibn Al Musayyab (rahimahullah) asking for something. Sa’id (rahimahullah) told him, ‘You being dark skinned, should not be a cause of grief/distress, for certainly three dark skinned men/African men were among the best of people; Bilal (radiyallahu ‘anhu), Mihja’, the freed slave of Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) and Luqman Al Hakim.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar