The Book of the Merits of the Companions

كتاب فضائل الصحابة رضى الله تعالى عنهم

Chapter 52: The Virtues Of the Sahabah, Then Those Who Come After Them, Then Those Who Come After Them

This hadith has been transmitted by Mansur on the authority of Abu al-Ahwas and Jarir with a slight variation of wording.

'Abdullah (b. Mas'ud) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying

The best among people are of my generation, then those next to them. (The narrator said): I do not know whether (he said) it three times or four times. Then there would fellow after them such persons whose evidence would precede the oath, and in case of some others, the oath (would precede) the evidence.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may, peace be upon him) as saying

The best age of my Umma is one in which I was sent (by Allah as an Apostle), then the one next to that. (The narrator said): And Allah knows best whether he stated this third (time) or not. Then there would come people who would love (to look) bulky and they would hasten to the witness box before they are asked to bear witness.

This hadith has been reported on the authority of Abu Huraira through another chain of transmitters (but with this variation) that Abu Huraira said

I do not know whether he (the Holy Prophet) said (these words:" Then next" ) twice or thrice.

Imran b. Husain reported Allah's-Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

The best among you (are) the people (who belong to) my age. Then those next to them, then those next to them, then those next to them. 'Imran said: I do not know whether Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said twice or thrice (the words:" Then next" ) after (saying) about his (own age but he then said): Then after them (after successors or those who would succeed them) would come a people who would give evidence before they are asked for it, and would be dishonest and not trustworthy, who would make vows but would not fulfil them, and would be significant in being bulky.

This hadith has been reported on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters (and the words are)

I do not know whether he made a mention of two generations after his generation or of the third one too. Shababa said: I heard this from Zahdam b. Mudarrib as he came to me riding a horse for some need and he narrated it to me that he had heard it from 'Imran b. Husain, and in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Yahya and Shababa (the words are): They take an oath but they do not fulfil it, and in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Bahz there the word is Yafun as transmitted on the authority of Ibn Ja'far.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Imran b. Husain through another chain of transmitters (and the words are)

The best generation of this Umma is the generation to which I have been sent, then the next one, and there is an addition in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Abu 'Awana (and the words are): And Allah knows best whether he made a mention of the third (generation) or not; the rest of the hadith is the same as transmitted by Zahdam on the authority of 'Imran. And in the hadith transmitted by Hisham on the authority of Qatada there is an addition of these words: They take an oath whereas they are not asked to take.

'A'isha reported that a person asked Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as to who amongst the people were the best. He said

Of the generation to which I belong, then of the second generation (generation adjacent to my generation), then of the third generation (generation adjacent to the second generation).

Chapter 53: The Meaning Of The Words Of The Prophet (SAW): "After One Hundred Years There Will Be No Soul Left Alive That Is Living Now"

'Abdullah b. Umar reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) led us 'Isha' prayer at the latter part of the night and when he had concluded it by salutations he stood up and said

Have you seen this night of yours? At the end of one hundred years after this none would survive on the surface of the earth (from amount my Companions). Ibn Umar said: People were (not understanding) these words of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) which had been uttered pertaining to one hundred years. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in fact meant (by these words) that on that day none from amongst those who had been living upon the earth (from amongst his Companions) would survive (after one hundred years) and that would be the end of this generation.

This hadith has been transmitted by Zuhri on the authority of Ma'mar.

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying this one month before his death: You asked me about the Last Hour whereas its knowledge is with Allah. I, however, take an oath and say that none upon the earth, the created beings (from amongst my Companions), would survive at the end of one hundred years.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Juraij with the same chain of transmitters, but there is no mention of the words

" one month before his death".

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying one mouth before his death (or something like it)

None amongst the created beings who had been living by that time (during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle).... 'Abd al-Rahman has interpreted these words of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as: The ages (of the people) would be diminished.

This hadith has been reported on the authority of Sulaiman Taimi through other chains of transmitters.

Abu Sa'id reported that when Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) came back from Tabuk they (his Companions) asked about the Last Hour. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said

There would be none amongst the created beings living on the earth (who would survive this century).

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said

None amongst the created beings (from my Companions) would survive after one hundred years. Salim said: We made a mention of it to him (Jabir), whereupon he said: It means those who had been living on that day.

Chapter 54: The Prohibition Of Reviling The Companions (RA)

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

Do not revile my Companions, do not revile my Companions. By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if one amongst you would have spent as much gold as Uhud it would not amount to as much as one much on behalf of one of them or half of it.

Abu Sa'id reported there was some altercation between Khalid b. Walid and Abd al-Rahman b. 'Auf and Khalid reviled him. Thereupon Allah's Messwger (ﷺ) said

None should revile my Companions. for if one amongst you were to spend as much gold as Uhud, it would not amount to as much as one mudd of one of them or half of it.

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of al-A'mash and there is no mention by Shu'ba and Waki' of 'Abd al-Rahman b. Auf and Khalid.

Chapter 55: The Virtues Of Uwais Al-Qarani (RA)

Usair b. Jabir reported that a delegation from Kufa came to 'Umar and there was a person amongst them who jeered at Uwais. Thereupon Umar said

Is there amongst us one from Qaran? That person came and Umar said: Verily Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has said: There would come to you a person from Yemen who would be called Uwais and he would leave none in Yemen (behind him) except his mother, and he would have the whiteness (due to leprosy) and he supplicated Allah and it was cured except for the size of a dinar or dirham. He who amongst you meets him should ask him to supplicate for forgiveness (from Allah) for you.