44/52. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2535a — Best Generations and Trust
The Virtues Of the Sahabah, Then Those Who Come After Them, Then Those Who Come After Them
Hadith About Best Generations, Trust, and Vows
Sahih Muslim : 2535a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2535a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ جَمِيعًا عَنْ غُنْدَرٍ، قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَمْرَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي زَهْدَمُ بْنُ، مُضَرِّبٍ سَمِعْتُ عِمْرَانَ بْنَ حُصَيْنٍ، يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ خَيْرَكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ " . قَالَ عِمْرَانُ فَلاَ أَدْرِي أَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعْدَ قَرْنِهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةً " ثُمَّ يَكُونُ بَعْدَهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُتَّمَنُونَ وَيَنْذُرُونَ وَلاَ يُوفُونَ وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ " .
'Imran bin Husain Narrated from:
The best among you (are) the people (who belong to) my age. Then those next to them, then those next to them, then those next to them. 'Imran said: I do not know whether Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said twice or thrice (the words:" Then next") after (saying) about his (own age but he then said): Then after them (after successors or those who would succeed them) would come a people who would give evidence before they are asked for it, and would be dishonest and not trustworthy, who would make vows but would not fulfil them, and would be significant in being bulky.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2535aIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 304USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 6156
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2535a
This hadith about the best generations and trust is reported by Imran b. Husain. Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said the best among them are the people of his age, then those next to them, then those next to them, and then those next to them. Imran says he did not know whether the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned two or three generations after his own. The report then warns about people who give evidence before being asked, are dishonest and not trustworthy, make vows but do not fulfill them, and in whom bulkiness appears. The hadith joins praise of the early generations with a warning about weak trust, careless testimony, and broken vows.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم praised his age and the generations close to it.
- The narrator preserved uncertainty about the exact number of later generations mentioned.
- The hadith warns against giving testimony carelessly.
- Dishonesty, broken vows, and lack of trust are blamed in this report.
