44/52. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2535c — Best Ummah Generation
The Virtues Of the Sahabah, Then Those Who Come After Them, Then Those Who Come After Them
Hadith About the Best Generation of This Ummah
Sahih Muslim : 2535c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2535c
وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ الأُمَوِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي كِلاَهُمَا، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَوْفَى، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ " خَيْرُ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ الْقَرْنُ الَّذِينَ بُعِثْتُ فِيهِمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ " . زَادَ فِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي عَوَانَةَ قَالَ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ أَذَكَرَ الثَّالِثَ أَمْ لاَ . بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ زَهْدَمٍ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ وَزَادَ فِي حَدِيثِ هِشَامٍ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ " وَيَحْلِفُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَحْلَفُونَ " .
'Imran bin Husain Narrated from:
The best generation of this Umma is the generation to which I have been sent, then the next one, and there is an addition in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Abu 'Awana (and the words are): And Allah knows best whether he made a mention of the third (generation) or not; the rest of the hadith is the same as transmitted by Zahdam on the authority of 'Imran. And in the hadith transmitted by Hisham on the authority of Qatada there is an addition of these words: They take an oath whereas they are not asked to take.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2535cIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 306USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 6158
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2535c
This hadith about the best generation of this Ummah is narrated from Imran b. Husain through another chain. The wording says the best generation of this Ummah is the generation to which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was sent, then the next one. One narration adds that Allah knows best whether he mentioned a third generation or not. The rest of the report matches the earlier meaning, and another wording adds that people would take oaths when they were not asked to take them. The hadith keeps the same main message: early generations are praised, while later careless use of witness, vows, and oaths is warned against.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم praised the generation to which he was sent.
- The next generation is also praised in the report.
- The narration preserves uncertainty about whether a third generation was mentioned.
- The added wording warns against taking oaths without being asked.
