`Imran bin Hussain said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best of you (people) are my generation, and the second best will be those who will follow them, and then those who will follow the second generation." `Imran added, "I do not remember whether he mentioned two or three (generations) after his generation. He added, 'Then will come some people who will make vows but will not fulfill them; and they will be dishonest and will not be trustworthy, and they will give their witness without being asked to give their witness, and fatness will appear among them.' "
Excellence of the Early Generations
The Prophet (ﷺ) establishes the spiritual hierarchy of the Muslim Ummah, declaring his own generation as the best, followed by the next generation (the Tābi'ūn), and then those who follow them (Tābi' al-Tābi'īn). This three-tiered excellence is established through direct companionship with the Prophet, learning from the Companions, and preserving the authentic transmission of Islam.
Degeneration of Later Generations
After these blessed generations, there will emerge people characterized by moral and religious decline. They will make vows but not fulfill them, showing negligence in religious commitments. They will be dishonest and untrustworthy in their dealings, violating the fundamental Islamic ethic of amānah (trustworthiness).
They will offer testimony without being asked, indicating either excessive eagerness to interfere in matters not concerning them or attempting to deceive through unsolicited statements. The mention of fatness appearing among them signifies either physical indulgence reflecting spiritual neglect or metaphorically indicates hearts becoming "fat" and insensitive to religious truths.
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith serves as both praise for the early generations and warning for later ones. The excellence of the Salaf (pious predecessors) is established by their proximity to the source of revelation and their embodiment of Islamic teachings. The description of later generations serves as a caution against religious and moral decline, urging Muslims to adhere to the way of the righteous predecessors in belief, worship, and character.