Fine Qualities

Abu Umama reported God's messenger as saying, "Blessed is he who has seen me, but seven times blessed is he who has not seen me but has believed on me." Ahmad transmitted it.

Yes, I shall tell you a good tradition. One day we had lunch with God's messenger, and Abu `Ubaida b. al-Jarrah who was along with us asked, "Is anyone better, messenger of God, than we are who have accepted Islam and striven along with you?" He replied, "Yes, people who will come after your time and will believe on me without having seen me." His name was Abdallah. He settled in Jerusalem and died in 99 A.H. See Shadharat adh dhahab, 1:116. Istiab p. 634, says there was doubt about his name, and one or two different statements about it are quoted. He was a companion of the Prophet and was reckoned among the Syrians. Ahmad and Darimi transmitted it, and Razin transmitted it on Abu `Ubaida's authority from his asking, "Is anyone better, messenger of God, than we are..." to the end.

Mu'awiya b. Qurra quoted his father's authority for the statement that God's messenger said, "When the Syrians become corrupt there will be good in you, but a section of my people will continue to be helped, not being injured by those who desert them, till the last hour comes." Ibn al-Madini said they are the traditionists. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Ibn 'Abbas reported Allah's messenger as saying, "Indeed, Allah has pardoned my nation for mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do against their will."Ibn Majah and Baihaqi transmitted it.

Bahz b. Hakim, on his father's authority, told that with reference to the words of God most high, `You were the best people brought forth for mankind[*],' his grandfather said he had heard God's messenger say, "You bring the number up to seventy peoples of which you are the best and most honourable in the estimation of God most high." *Quran; 3:110Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan tradition.