"The Messenger of Allah {s.a.w} narrated two narrations to us, one of which I have seen {happening} and I am waiting for the other. He narrated that (in the beginning) trust was preserved in the roots of the hearts of men, then the Qur'an was revealed, and they learned it from the Qur'an, and then they learned it from the Sunnah. Then he narrated to us about the disappearance of trust, saying, 'A man will go to sleep whereupon trust will be taken away from his heart, and only its trace will remain, like speckles. He then will sleep, whereupon the remainder of the trust will also be taken away and trace will remain like a blister, like an ember that you roll on your feet, it causes pain and you see it swollen while it contains nothing.' Then he took a pebble and rolled it over his leg. He said: 'So there will come a day when people will deal in business with each other, but there will hardly be any trustworthy persons among them, such that it would be said that in such and such a tribe, there is such and such person, who is honest, and until a man will be admired for his strength, intelligence, and good manners, although indeed he will not have faith equal to a mustard seed in his heart."' He (Hudhaifah) added: "There came upon me a time when I did not mind dealing with anyone of you, for if he was a Muslim, his religion would prevent him from cheating me, and if was a Jew or a Christian, his Muslim ruler would prevent him from cheating me; but today I cannot deal except with so-and-so and so-and-so."
Hadith Commentary: The Gradual Erosion of Trust
This profound narration from Sahih al-Bukhari, reported by the esteemed companion Hudhaifah ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him), describes the spiritual disease of diminishing trust (amanah) that will afflict the Muslim ummah in later times. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) presents a vivid allegory of trust being gradually extracted from human hearts during sleep, leaving only superficial traces like speckles and blisters - appearances without substance.
The Three Stages of Religious Knowledge
The Messenger (peace be upon him) outlined three progressive sources of religious understanding: first, innate faith placed in hearts by divine disposition (fitrah); second, revelation through the Holy Qur'an; third, implementation through the Prophetic Sunnah. This demonstrates the comprehensive nature of Islamic guidance, combining innate disposition, divine scripture, and practical exemplification.
Spiritual Consequences of Diminished Trust
When trust departs from hearts, outward religious observance remains but lacks spiritual essence. The Prophet's analogy of the blister illustrates how people may maintain Islamic appearances while their hearts contain no genuine faith - swollen with ritualistic practices but empty of true conviction. This condition represents one of the major signs of spiritual decay preceding the Day of Judgment.
Historical Context and Contemporary Relevance
Hudhaifah's personal testimony confirms he witnessed the beginning of this prophecy. His statement about previously trusting Muslims due to their religious restraint, and non-Muslims due to governmental oversight, contrasts sharply with his later experience where trust became limited to specific individuals. This degeneration serves as both warning and diagnosis for later generations to recognize and counter this spiritual malady through sincere faith and consciousness of Allah.