Sahih Muslim , Hadith 1382 ⓘ
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (way peace be upon him) as saying: I have been commanded (to migrate) to a town (Medina) which would overpower other towns. They (the people) call it Yathrib; its correct name is (in fact) Medina. It eliminates (bad) people just as a furnace removes the alloy of iron.
وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، - فِيمَا قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِ - عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ، سَعِيدٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحُبَابِ، سَعِيدَ بْنَ يَسَارٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أُمِرْتُ بِقَرْيَةٍ تَأْكُلُ الْقُرَى يَقُولُونَ يَثْرِبَ وَهْىَ الْمَدِينَةُ تَنْفِي النَّاسَ كَمَا يَنْفِي الْكِيرُ خَبَثَ الْحَدِيدِ " .
also referenced under: Book 15, Hadith 557 (In-Book) & Book 7, Hadith 3189 (USC-MSA)
This hadith has been narrated by Yabya b. Sa'id with the same chain of transmitters (and the words are): " Just as a furance removes impurity," but no mention is made of iron.
وَحَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَقَالاَ " كَمَا يَنْفِي الْكِيرُ الْخَبَثَ " . لَمْ يَذْكُرَا الْحَدِيدَ.
also referenced under: Book 15, Hadith 558 (In-Book) & Book 7, Hadith 3190 (USC-MSA)