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