The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ، حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي جَمْرَةَ، سَمِعْتُ زَهْدَمَ بْنَ مُضَرِّبٍ، سَمِعْتُ عِمْرَانَ بْنَ حُصَيْنٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ". قَالَ عِمْرَانُ فَلاَ أَدْرِي أَذَكَرَ بَعْدَ قَرْنِهِ قَرْنَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا " ثُمَّ إِنَّ بَعْدَكُمْ قَوْمًا يَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ، وَيَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُؤْتَمَنُونَ، وَيَنْذُرُونَ وَلاَ يَفُونَ، وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ ".
"Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'The best of my followers are those living in my generation (i.e. my
contemporaries). and then those who will follow the latter" `Imran added, "I do not remember whether
he mentioned two or three generations after his generation, then the Prophet (ﷺ) added, 'There will come
after you, people who will bear witness without being asked to do so, and will be treacherous and
untrustworthy, and they will vow and never fulfill their vows, and fatness will appear among them."
Narrated by Narrated `Imran bin Husain:
Context
In this narration, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) speaks about the generations of his followers, praising his contemporaries and warning of the decline in values among future generations. He describes a time when people will bear false witness, betray trust, and fail to fulfill their vows, indicating a shift away from the principles of integrity and honesty.
Modern Application
This warning resonates today as we observe various societal challenges, including dishonesty and betrayal in personal and professional relationships. It serves as a call to uphold ethical standards and integrity in our interactions, fostering a culture of trust and accountability.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Community and Prophetic Warning because it addresses the importance of maintaining integrity within the community and serves as a prophetic caution about the moral decline in future generations.
And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger - those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.
Believe in Allah and His Messenger and spend out of that in which He has made you successors. For those who have believed among you and spent, there will be a great reward.
Indeed, the most worthy of Abraham among the people are those who followed him [in submission to Allah] and this prophet, and those who believe [in his message]. And Allah is the ally of the believers.
سُورَةُ الوَاقِعَةِ
Al-Waaqia (The Inevitable)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلْءَاخِرِينَ
Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, the former and the later peoples
Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient.
