This hadeeth comes under the following chapter: THE MERITS OF THE COMPANIONS OF THE HOLY PROPHET (SALLALLAAHU ALAYHI WA SALLAM) AND OF THOSE WHO ARE NEXT TO THEM AND THEN OF THOSE WHO ARE NEXT TO THEM
This hadith has been reported on the authority of Abu Huraira through another chain of transmitters (but with this variation) that Abu Huraira said: I do not know whether he (the Prophet) said (these words:" Then next" ) twice or thrice.