35/29. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3809 — The Best Generations and Broken Trust
Fulfilling Vows
Best Generations Hadith: Trust, Testimony, and Fulfilling Vows
Sunan an-Nasai : 3809
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3809
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي جَمْرَةَ، عَنْ زَهْدَمٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عِمْرَانَ بْنَ حُصَيْنٍ، يَذْكُرُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " خَيْرُكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ " . فَلاَ أَدْرِي أَذَكَرَ مَرَّتَيْنِ بَعْدَهُ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ قَوْمًا يَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُؤْتَمَنُونَ وَيَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيُنْذِرُونَ وَلاَ يُوفُونَ وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ . قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ هَذَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عِمْرَانَ أَبُو جَمْرَةَ .
'Imran bin Husain Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'The best of you are my generation, then those who come after them, then those whom after them, then those who come after them.' -I do not know if he said two times after him or three. Then he mentioned some people who betray and cannot be trusted, who bear witness without being asked to do so, who make vows and do not fulfill them, and fatness will prevail among them.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3809In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 49English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3840
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3809
This hadith begins by praising the Prophet's generation and those who came after them. The narrator was unsure whether the later generations were mentioned two or three times after the first. The narration then describes people with several troubling traits. They betray others and are not trusted. They give testimony without being asked. They make vows but do not fulfill them. It also says that fatness will become common among them. A search for the best generations hadith often focuses only on the opening praise, but this report also carries a warning about character. Trustworthiness, careful testimony, and keeping vows stand in contrast to betrayal and broken promises. The text encourages readers to value reliable conduct rather than merely claiming goodness.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet praised his generation and the generations immediately after it.
- Betrayal and being untrustworthy are condemned traits.
- Giving testimony carelessly is presented as a warning sign.
- Making vows and failing to fulfill them is blameworthy.
