The Prophet ﷺ said, "The people of my generation are the best, then those who follow them, and then whose who follow the latter. After that there will come some people whose witness will go ahead of their oaths, and their oaths will go ahead of their witness." Ibrahim (a sub-narrator) said, "We used to be beaten for taking oaths by saying, 'I bear witness by the Name of Allah or by the Covenant of Allah."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ أَقْوَامٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ وَكَانُوا يَضْرِبُونَنَا عَلَى الشَّهَادَةِ وَالْعَهْدِ  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The best people are those living in my generation, and then those who will follow them, and then those who will follow the latter. Then there will come some people who will bear witness before taking oaths, and take oaths before bearing witness." (Ibrahim, a sub-narrator said, "They used to beat us for witnesses and covenants when we were still children.")  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ وَكَانُوا يَضْرِبُونَا عَلَى الشَّهَادَةِ وَالْعَهْدِ وَنَحْنُ صِغَارٌ  

The best of my Umma would be those of the generation nearest to mine. Then those nearest to them, then those nearest to them, then people would come whose witness would precede the oath and the oath will precede the witness. Hannad has not made the mention of Qarn in his narration. Qutaiba said that, instead of the word Qaum, the word Aqwam has been used.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي الْقَرْنُ الَّذِينَ يَلُونِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ هَنَّادٌ الْقَرْنَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ وَقَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ أَقْوَامٌ  

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.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ فَلاَ أَدْرِي فِي الثَّالِثَةِ أَوْ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ قَالَ ثُمَّ يَتَخَلَّفُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ  

"The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them. Then, after them a people will come who increase in fatness, loving fatness, giving testimony before they are asked for it."  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ قَوْمٌ يَتَسَمَّنُونَ وَيُحِبُّونَ السِّمَنَ يُعْطُونَ الشَّهَادَةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْأَلُوهَا  

"The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them,then those who follow them, then those who follow them."(He ﷺsaid that) three times. "Then, after them a people will come who increase in fatness, loving fatness, giving testimony before they are asked for it."  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ يَتَسَمَّنُونَ وَيُحِبُّونَ السِّمَنَ يُعْطُونَ الشَّهَادَةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُسْأَلُوهَا  

that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The best generation is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them. Then comes a people after that whose swearing precedes their testimony, or whose testimony precedes their swearing."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي قَوْمٌ مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ تَسْبِقُ أَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَاتِهِمْ أَوْ شَهَادَاتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عُمَرَ وَعِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ وَبُرَيْدَةَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ  

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, 'Which of the people are best?' He said: 'My generation, then those that follow them, then those that follow them. Then there will come people whose testimony precedes their oath and whose oath precedes their testimony.”  

عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَىُّ النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ قَالَ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَبْدُرُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ  

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. (Using translation from Muslim 2533d)   

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ أَقْرَانِي الَّذِينَ يَلُونِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ قَالَ وَلَا أَدْرِي أَقَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ أَوْ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ ثُمَّ يَخْلُفُ بَعْدَهُمْ خَلْفٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them, then those who follow them. After that, there will come a people whose testimony precedes their oaths, and their oaths are their testimony."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَاتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَأَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَاتِهِمْ  

[Machine] From the Prophet ﷺ that he said: "The best of people are my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them. Then, there will come a people who precede their testimony with their oath, and their oath will be their testimony." He said: "Our companions used to teach us while we were young to give testimony and fulfill our promises."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثَلَاثًا أَوْ أَرْبَعًا ثُمَّ يَجِيءُقَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ قَالَ وَكَانَ أَصْحَابُنَا يَضْرِبُونَا وَنَحْنُ صِبْيَانٌ عَلَى الشَّهَادَةِ وَالْعَهْدِ  

[Machine] "From the Prophet ﷺ, he said: The best among you are those of my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them. Then, there will come a people who will precede their oaths with their testimonies and their testimonies with their oaths."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ خَيْرُكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَخْلُفُ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَاتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَأَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَاتِهِمْ  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The best people are those of my generation, and then those who will come after them (the next generation), and then those who will come after them (i.e. the next generation), and then after them, there will come people whose witness will precede their oaths, and whose oaths will precede their witness." (Using translation from Bukhārī 6429)  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَأَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَتَهُمْ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them. Then there will come a people who will precede their oaths and their oaths will precede their testimonies."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ أَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَتَهُمْ وَشَهَادَتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ  

[Machine] "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The best of this Ummah are those who were sent in it, followed by those who come after them, then those who come after them, then those who come after those who come after them. He said: They are good. Then there will be people whose oaths will be taken before their testimony, and their testimony will be taken before their oaths."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ خَيْرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ الْقَرْنُ الَّذِينَ بُعِثْتُ فِيهِمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ قَالَ حَسَنٌ ثُمَّ يَنْشَأُ أَقْوَامٌ تَسْبِقُ أَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَتَهُمْ وَشَهَادَتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them. Then there will come a people whose testimony will precede their oaths, and their oaths will precede their testimony."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي الَّذِي أَنَا فِيهِ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَأَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَتَهُمْ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them, then those who follow them. Then there will come a people whose testimony will precede their oath and their oath will precede their testimony."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ النَّاسِقَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَتَسْبِقُ أَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَتَهُمْ  

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, 'Which of the people are best?' He said: 'My generation, then those that follow them, then those that follow them. Then there will come people whose testimony precedes their oath and whose oath precedes their testimony.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 2362)  

سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَيُّ النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ؟ قَالَ «قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَبْدُرُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ»  

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ said, "The best of people is my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them. Then there will come a people whose testimonies will precede their oaths, and their oaths will precede their testimonies."  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي قَوْمٌ يَسْبِقُ أَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَتَهُمْ وَشَهَادَتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ»  

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, 'Which of the people are best?' He said: 'My generation, then those that follow them, then those that follow them. Then there will come people whose testimony precedes their oath and whose oath precedes their testimony.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 2362)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ أَقْوَامٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ»  

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, 'Which of the people are best?' He said: 'My generation, then those that follow them, then those that follow them. Then there will come people whose testimony precedes their oath and whose oath precedes their testimony.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 2362)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي الْقَرْنُ الَّذِينَ يَلُونِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ»  

The best of my Umma would be those of the generation nearest to mine. Then those nearest to them, then those nearest to them, then people would come whose witness would precede the oath and the oath will precede the witness. Hannad has not made the mention of Qarn in his narration. Qutaiba said that, instead of the word Qaum, the word Aqwam has been used. (Using translation from Muslim 2533a)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي الْقَرْنُ الَّذِينَ يَلُونِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهُمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ»  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The best people are those of my generation, and then those who will come after them (the next generation), and then those who will come after them (i.e. the next generation), and then after them, there will come people whose witness will precede their oaths, and whose oaths will precede their witness." (Using translation from Bukhārī 6429)  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ «خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَأَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَتَهُمْ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best of this nation is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them, then there will come a people who will precede their oaths with their testimonies and their testimonies with their oaths."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «خَيْرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ يَسْبِقُ أَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَاتِهِمْ وَشَهَادَاتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ»  

[Machine] I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, "Who are the best people?" He replied, "Those of my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them, and then a group will come whose testimony will precede their oath and their oath will be followed by their testimony."  

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ؟ فَقَالَ «قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ يَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ»  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The people of my generation are the best, then those who follow them, and then whose who follow the latter. After that there will come some people whose witness will go ahead of their oaths, and their oaths will go ahead of their witness." Ibrahim (a sub-narrator) said, "We used to be beaten for taking oaths by saying, 'I bear witness by the Name of Allah or by the Covenant of Allah." (Using translation from Bukhārī 2652)   

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ «خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي الْقَرْنُ الَّذِينَ يَلُونِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ أَقْوَامٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدُهُمْ يَمِينًَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتهُ»  

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, 'Which of the people are best?' He said: 'My generation, then those that follow them, then those that follow them. Then there will come people whose testimony precedes their oath and whose oath precedes their testimony.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 2362)   

سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّ النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ؟ قَالَ «قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَبْدُرُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَتَبْدُرُ يَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ»  

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. (Using translation from Muslim 2533d)  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ فَلَا أَدْرِي فِي الرَّابِعَةِ أَوِ الثَّالِثَةِ قَالَ ثُمَّ يَخْلُفُ بَعْدَهُمْ خَلْفٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The best people are those of my generation, and then those who will come after them (the next generation), and then those who will come after them (i.e. the next generation), and then after them, there will come people whose witness will precede their oaths, and whose oaths will precede their witness." (Using translation from Bukhārī 6429)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ أَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَتَهُمْ وَشَهَادَتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ  

"خَيْرُ هذِهِ الأُمَّة الْقَرْنُ الذى بُعِثْتُ أَنا فيهِمْ، ثم الذين يلُونَهم، ثم الذين يلُونَهم، ثم يكونُ قومٌ تَسبِقُ شَهَادتُهم أَيْمانَهُم وأَيَمانُهُم شَهَاداتِهِم".  

"خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قرنِى، ثم الذين يلُونَهم، ثم الذينَ يلُونَهُم، ثُم يجئُ أقوامٌ تَسْبِقُ شهادةُ أحدِهِم يمِينهُ ويمِينُه شَهَادته".  

"خيرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِى، ثم الذين يلُونَهُم، ثم الذين يلُونَهُم، ثم يأتِى من بعدهم قومٌ يتسمَّنُونَ ويحبونَ السِّمَنَ، يُعْطُون الشهادة قبل أَن يُسْأَلُوها".  

"خَيْرُكم قرنى، ثم الذين يَلُونهم، ثم الذين يلونَهم، ثم الذين يلونهم، ثمَّ يأتى قومٌ تَسْبق أَيمانُهم شهاداتهم، وتسبق شهاداتُهم أَيمانَهم".

ويروى: "خَيْرُ الناس قرنى".