This tradition has been transmitted through a different chain by Abu Mas’ud This version has words ; “If they are equally versed in recitation, then the one who has most knowledge of the Sunnah ; if they are equal with regard to (the knowledge of) the Sunnah, then the earliest of them to emigrate (to medina)”. He did not narrate the words; “ The earliest of them in recitation”.

Abu Dawud said:

Hajjaj b. Artata reported from Isma’il: Do not sit in the place of honour of anyone except with his permission.

حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ رَجَاءٍ، عَنْ أَوْسِ بْنِ ضَمْعَجٍ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ " فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَعْلَمُهُمْ بِالسُّنَّةِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي السُّنَّةِ سَوَاءً فَأَقْدَمُهُمْ هِجْرَةً " . وَلَمْ يَقُلْ " فَأَقْدَمُهُمْ قِرَاءَةً " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ حَجَّاجُ بْنُ أَرْطَاةَ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ قَالَ " وَلاَ تَقْعُدْ عَلَى تَكْرِمَةِ أَحَدٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ " .