44/52. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2533a — Best Generation of the Ummah
The Virtues Of the Sahabah, Then Those Who Come After Them, Then Those Who Come After Them
Hadith About the Best Generation of the Ummah
Sahih Muslim : 2533a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2533a
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَهَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ عَبِيدَةَ السَّلْمَانِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي الْقَرْنُ الَّذِينَ يَلُونِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ " . لَمْ يَذْكُرْ هَنَّادٌ الْقَرْنَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ وَقَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ " ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ أَقْوَامٌ " .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The best of my Umma would be those of the generation nearest to mine. Then those nearest to them, then those nearest to them, then people would come whose witness would precede the oath and the oath will precede the witness. Hannad has not made the mention of Qarn in his narration. Qutaiba said that, instead of the word Qaum, the word Aqwam has been used.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2533aIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 298USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 6150
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2533a
This hadith about the best generation of the Ummah has two main points. First, Abdullah reports that Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said the best of his Ummah are those in the generation nearest to him, then those nearest to them, then those nearest to them. Second, he warned that later people would appear whose witness would come before their oath and whose oath would come before their witness. The text points to the high rank of the first generations and also warns against careless speech in serious matters. It does not describe every later person. It gives a warning about a pattern of unreliable testimony and oaths.
What we learn from this hadith
- The generation nearest to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is praised as the best of his Ummah.
- The next generations are also honored in order.
- The hadith warns against careless witness and oaths.
- Serious words like testimony and oath should not be treated lightly.
