44/52. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2532a — Virtue of the Early Generations
The Virtues Of the Sahabah, Then Those Who Come After Them, Then Those Who Come After Them
Hadith About the Virtue of the Early Muslim Generations
Sahih Muslim : 2532a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2532a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ، زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ الضَّبِّيُّ - وَاللَّفْظُ لِزُهَيْرٍ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعَ عَمْرٌو، جَابِرًا يُخْبِرُ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ يَغْزُو فِئَامٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ فِيكُمْ مَنْ رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُونَ . نَعَمْ فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَغْزُو فِئَامٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ فِيكُمْ مَنْ رَأَى مَنْ صَحِبَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ . فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَغْزُو فِئَامٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ هَلْ فِيكُمْ مَنْ رَأَى مَنْ صَحِبَ مَنْ صَحِبَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ . فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ " .
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri Narrated from:
Abu Sa'id Khudri reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: A time would come for the people when groups of people would set out for fighting in the cause of Allah and it would be said to them: Is there one amongst you who saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)? And they would say: Yes, and they would be victorious. Then the people would set out for fighting in the cause of Allah and it would be said to them: Is there one amongst you who saw those (who have had the privilege of sitting in the company of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)? And they would say: Yes, and victory would be granted to them. Then a group of persons would set out for fighting in the cause of Allah and it would be said to them: Is there one amongst you who saw one of those who saw those who (had the privilege) of sitting in the company of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)? And they would say: Yes, and the Victory would be granted to them.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2532aIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 296USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 6148
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2532a
This hadith about the virtue of the early Muslim generations speaks of groups setting out for fighting in the cause of Allah. Each time, people ask whether someone among them saw Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, then whether someone saw those who sat with him, then whether someone saw those who saw his Companions. In each stage, the answer is yes, and victory is granted. The report gives honor to direct connection with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and then to those who were connected to his Companions. It does not mention personal names, battle names, or dates. Its clear message is the special rank of the earliest generations linked to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Companions who saw the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم held a special rank.
- Those connected to the Companions are also honored in this report.
- The hadith links victory with the presence of people tied to the earliest generations.
- The report focuses on spiritual rank, not on naming specific battles.
