44/52. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2533b — Best People and Honest Testimony
The Virtues Of the Sahabah, Then Those Who Come After Them, Then Those Who Come After Them
Hadith About the Best People in the Prophet's Generation
Sahih Muslim : 2533b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2533b
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَنْظَلِيُّ، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ، عُثْمَانُ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَبِيدَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَىُّ النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ قَالَ " قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَبْدُرُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَتَبْدُرُ يَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ " . قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ كَانُوا يَنْهَوْنَنَا وَنَحْنُ غِلْمَانٌ عَنِ الْعَهْدِ وَالشَّهَادَاتِ .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
It was asked from Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) who amongst the people were the best. He said: (People) of my generation, then those next to them, then those next to them, then there would come a people whose evidence would precede their oath and their oath would precede their evidence. Ibrahim said: They forbade us to make vows and bear witness when we were too young.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2533bIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 299USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 6151
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2533b
This hadith about the best people begins with a question: who among people are the best? The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered that they are the people of his generation, then those next to them, then those next to them. The report then warns about people whose evidence would come before their oath and whose oath would come before their evidence. Ibrahim adds that they were forbidden, while young, from making vows and bearing witness. The explanation should stay close to these words. The hadith praises the early generations and teaches that testimony, vows, and oaths are serious matters, not things for careless or immature use.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم described his generation as the best people.
- The next two generations are also praised in this narration.
- Evidence and oaths should be handled with care.
- Ibrahim's comment shows early caution about vows and testimony among the young.
