44/52. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2534a — Best Age of the Ummah
The Virtues Of the Sahabah, Then Those Who Come After Them, Then Those Who Come After Them
Hadith About the Best Age of the Ummah
Sahih Muslim : 2534a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2534a
حَدَّثَنِي يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلُ، بْنُ سَالِمٍ أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بِشْرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي الْقَرْنُ الَّذِينَ بُعِثْتُ فِيهِمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ " . وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ أَذَكَرَ الثَّالِثَ أَمْ لاَ قَالَ " ثُمَّ يَخْلُفُ قَوْمٌ يُحِبُّونَ السَّمَانَةَ يَشْهَدُونَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْتَشْهَدُوا " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may, peace be upon him) as saying: The best age of my Umma is one in which I was sent (by Allah as an Apostle), then the one next to that. (The narrator said): And Allah knows best whether he stated this third (time) or not. Then there would come people who would love (to look) bulky and they would hasten to the witness box before they are asked to bear witness.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2534aIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 302USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 6154
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2534a
This hadith about the best age of the Ummah is reported by Abu Huraira. Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said the best age of his Ummah is the one in which he was sent, then the one next to it. The narrator adds that Allah knows best whether the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned a third time or not. The report then warns that people would come who love to look bulky and who hasten to the witness box before being asked to bear witness. The main lesson is two-sided: respect the first generations, and be careful about testimony. The hadith does not condemn every later person, but it warns against a blameworthy habit.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم praised the age in which he was sent.
- The next age after it is also praised in this report.
- The narrator carefully preserved uncertainty about a third mention.
- The hadith warns against rushing to testify before being asked.
