33/45. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2221 — Best Generations and Honest Testimony
What Has Been Related About The Third Generation
Best Generations Hadith and Honest Testimony
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2221
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2221
حَدَّثَنَا وَاصِلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْفُضَيْلِ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُدْرِكٍ، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ يِسَافٍ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ قَوْمٌ يَتَسَمَّنُونَ وَيُحِبُّونَ السِّمَنَ يُعْطُونَ الشَّهَادَةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْأَلُوهَا " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَكَذَا رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُدْرِكٍ عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ يِسَافٍ وَرَوَى غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ مِنَ الْحُفَّاظِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ يِسَافٍ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرُوا فِيهِ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُدْرِكٍ . قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، حَدَّثَنَا هِلاَلُ بْنُ يِسَافٍ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ . وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ عِنْدِي مِنْ حَدِيثِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ فُضَيْلٍ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
'Imran bin Husain Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) said: "The Best Of People Are My Generation, Then Those Who Follow Them. Then, After Them A People Will Come Who Increase In Fatness, Loving Fatness, Giving Testimony Before They Are Asked For It."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2221In-book reference : Book 33, Hadith 64English translation : Vol. 4, Book 7, Hadith 2221
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2221
This Hadith teaches about the best generations in Islam and the value of honest testimony. The Prophet said that the best people were his generation, then those who followed them, then those who followed them. After that, he warned about people who would love fatness and give testimony before being asked. The main message is not about appearance alone. The text points to a change in character: love of comfort, careless speech, and rushing to testify without need. A believer should respect the early generations and treat testimony as a serious trust, not something used for attention or personal gain.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet praised his generation and the generations that followed them.
- Giving testimony should be treated as a serious responsibility.
- Love of ease and self-display can be a sign of weakened character.
