Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'Nations were displayed before me; one or two prophets would pass by along with a few followers. A prophet would pass by accompanied by nobody. Then a big crowd of people passed in front of me and I asked, Who are they Are they my followers?" It was said, 'No. It is Moses and his followers It was said to me, 'Look at the horizon.'' Behold! There was a multitude of people filling the horizon. Then it was said to me, 'Look there and there about the stretching sky! Behold! There was a multitude filling the horizon,' It was said to me, 'This is your nation out of whom seventy thousand shall enter Paradise without reckoning.' "Then the Prophet (ﷺ) entered his house without telling his companions who they (the 70,000) were. So the people started talking about the issue and said, "It is we who have believed in Allah and followed His Apostle; therefore those people are either ourselves or our children who are born m the Islamic era, for we were born in the Pre-lslamic Period of Ignorance.'' When the Prophet (ﷺ) heard of that, he came out and said. "Those people are those who do not treat themselves with Ruqya, nor do they believe in bad or good omen (from birds etc.) nor do they get themselves branded (Cauterized). but they put their trust (only) in their Lord " On that 'Ukasha bin Muhsin said. "Am I one of them, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Yes." Then another person got up and said, "Am I one of them?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Ukasha has anticipated you."
The Vision of Nations
The Prophet (ﷺ) was shown various nations in a vision, observing prophets with varying numbers of followers. He witnessed Moses with a large multitude, then saw his own nation filling the horizon. He was informed that seventy thousand from his ummah would enter Paradise without reckoning.
Characteristics of the Blessed Seventy Thousand
These chosen individuals possess three distinguishing qualities: They do not perform Ruqya (seeking healing through Qur'an and supplications is permitted, but this refers to improper forms), they do not believe in superstitious omens, and they do not practice branding/cauterization for healing.
Their fundamental characteristic is complete reliance and trust in Allah alone (tawakkul), without resorting to prohibited means or attributing independent effect to created causes.
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith demonstrates Allah's immense mercy to the Muslim ummah and the superiority of Prophet Muhammad's followers. The seventy thousand represent those with perfect tawhid who avoid shirk in all its forms, including superstitious beliefs and attributing healing to other than Allah.
The prohibition mentioned is specifically against practices that involve shirk or contravene pure tawakkul. Permissible medical treatments and ruqya using Qur'an and authentic supplications remain allowed, as established in other authentic narrations.
Spiritual Lessons
This narration teaches us to purify our faith from all innovations and superstitious practices. It emphasizes that true success comes through sincere reliance upon Allah while utilizing permissible means within Islamic guidelines.
The incident with 'Ukasha illustrates the virtue of being quick to seek goodness and the importance of having hope in Allah's mercy, while understanding that spiritual ranks are determined by Allah's knowledge and wisdom.