37/34. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4284 — The Just Nation as Witnesses
Description of the Nation of Muhammad (saws)
Hadith About the Ummah as Witnesses Over Mankind
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4284
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4284
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " يَجِيءُ النَّبِيُّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَعَهُ الرَّجُلُ وَيَجِيءُ النَّبِيُّ وَمَعَهُ الرَّجُلاَنِ وَيَجِيءُ النَّبِيُّ وَمَعَهُ الثَّلاَثَةُ وَأَكْثَرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَأَقَلُّ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ هَلْ بَلَّغْتَ قَوْمَكَ فَيَقُولُ نَعَمْ . فَيُدْعَى قَوْمُهُ فَيُقَالُ هَلَ بَلَّغَكُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ لاَ . فَيُقَالُ مَنْ شَهِدَ لَكَ فَيَقُولُ مُحَمَّدٌ وَأُمَّتُهُ . فَتُدْعَى أُمَّةُ مُحَمَّدٍ فَيُقَالُ هَلْ بَلَّغَ هَذَا فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ . فَيَقُولُ وَمَا عِلْمُكُمْ بِذَلِكَ فَيَقُولُونَ أَخْبَرَنَا نَبِيُّنَا بِذَلِكَ أَنَّ الرُّسُلَ قَدْ بَلَّغُوا فَصَدَّقْنَاهُ . قَالَ فَذَلِكُمْ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى {وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا} .
Abu Sa'eed Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “A Prophet will come accompanied by two men, and a Prophet will come accompanied by three, and (some will come) with more or less than that. It will be said to him: ‘Did you convey the message to your people?’ And he will say: ‘Yes.’ Then his people will be called and it will be said: ‘Did he convey the message to you?’ They will say: ‘No.’ Then it will be said: ‘Who will bear witness for you?’ He will say: ‘Muhammad and his nation.’ So the nation of Muhammad will be called and it will be said: ‘Did this man convey the message?’ They will say: ‘Yes.’ He will say: ‘How did you know that?’ They will say: ‘Our Prophet told us that the Messengers had conveyed the message, and we believed him.’This is what Allah says: “Thus We have made you, a just (and the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger (Muhammad (ﷺ)) be a witness over you.’” [2:143]
[1] Al-Baqarah 2:143.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4284In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 185English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4284
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4284
This Hadith explains the honor and duty of the nation of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم on the Day of Resurrection. A Prophet will come with a small number of followers, and he will be asked whether he conveyed the message to his people. When his people deny it, he will say that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and his nation will bear witness for him. The nation of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم will say that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told them the messengers had conveyed the message, and they believed him. The Hadith then connects this to the verse about being a just nation and witnesses over mankind. This Hadith about the ummah as witnesses teaches trust in the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم message and shows the weight of belief in what he taught.
What we learn from this hadith
- The nation of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم will bear witness based on what their Prophet told them.
- Belief in the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم includes accepting his truthful news.
- The Hadith explains the meaning of being a just nation in the cited verse.
- Prophets conveyed their message, even if some people denied it.
