We were with the Prophet ﷺ when we were young, sturdy lads, and we learned faith before we learned the Quran. Then we learned the Quran, and our faith increased through it.
كنا مع النبي ﷺ ونحن فتيان حزاورة، فتعلمنا الإيمان قبل أن نتعلم القرآن، ثم تعلمنا القرآن، فازددنا به إيمانا.
Ibn Majah related it (61) from Ali bin Muhammad, who said, Waki narrated to us, who said, Hammad bin Najih - who was trustworthy - narrated to us, from Abu Imran Jawni, from Jundab, and he mentioned it. Its chain of transmission is hasan because of Hammad bin Najih al-Iskaf Sadusi, for his hadith is hasan.His saying, "hazawira," is the plural of "hazwar," which refers to a boy once he has grown strong, powerful, and firm.