I heard `Imran bin Husain saying, "The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best people are those living in my generation, then those coming after them, and then those coming after (the second generation)." `Imran said "I do not know whether the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned two or three generations after your present generation. The Prophet (ﷺ) added, 'There will be some people after you, who will be dishonest and will not be trustworthy and will give witness (evidences) without being asked to give witness, and will vow but will not fulfill their vows, and obesity will appear among them."
Hadith Commentary: The Three Best Generations
This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari 2651 establishes the spiritual hierarchy of the Muslim community across time, beginning with the Prophet's generation as the pinnacle of excellence.
The Three Blessed Generations
The Prophet (ﷺ) clearly delineated three superior generations: his own Companions (As-Sahabah), followed by their successors (At-Tabi'un), and then the successors of the successors (Atba' at-Tabi'in).
Scholars note that the uncertainty expressed by 'Imran bin Husain regarding whether two or three generations were mentioned reflects the scrupulous honesty of the Companions in transmitting exactly what they heard.
Signs of Later Generations
The Prophet foretold specific moral declines: dishonesty in dealings, breach of trust, unsolicited testimony, unfulfilled vows, and the emergence of obesity.
Classical commentators explain that unsolicited testimony indicates a desire for prominence rather than truth, while obesity signifies excessive indulgence in worldly pleasures and neglect of spiritual discipline.
Scholarly Insights
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Fath al-Bari notes that this hadith provides consolation - later generations can still attain righteousness by following the guidance of these blessed predecessors.
The mention of specific moral failings serves as both prophecy and warning, encouraging Muslims to consciously counteract these tendencies through strict adherence to Islamic ethics.