"خَيْرُكم قرنى، ثم الذين يلونهم، ثم الذين يلونهم، ثم يكون بعدهم قوم يخونون ولا يُؤتمنون، ويشهدون ولا يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ، ويَنذِرون ولا يَفُون، ويظهر فيهم السِّمَنُ".
See similar narrations below:
Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Nasāʾī, Abū Dāwūd, Aḥmad, Ṭabarānī, Nasāʾī's Kubrá, BayhaqīI heard ʿImran 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)." ʿImran 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."
قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ خَيْرُكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ قَالَ عِمْرَانُ لاَ أَدْرِي أَذَكَرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بَعْدُ قَرْنَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةً قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّ بَعْدَكُمْ قَوْمًا يَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُؤْتَمَنُونَ وَيَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَنْذِرُونَ وَلاَ يَفُونَ وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ
"Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'The best of my followers are those living in my generation (i.e. my contemporaries). and then those who will follow the latter" ʿImran added, "I do not remember whether he mentioned two or three generations after his generation, then the Prophet ﷺ added, 'There will come after you, people who will bear witness without being asked to do so, and will be treacherous and untrustworthy, and they will vow and never fulfill their vows, and fatness will appear among them."
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ قَالَ عِمْرَانُ فَلاَ أَدْرِي أَذَكَرَ بَعْدَ قَرْنِهِ قَرْنَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ إِنَّ بَعْدَكُمْ قَوْمًا يَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُؤْتَمَنُونَ وَيَنْذُرُونَ وَلاَ يَفُونَ وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ
ʿImran bin Hussain said, "The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The best of you (people) are my generation, and the second best will be those who will follow them, and then those who will follow the second generation." ʿImran added, "I do not remember whether he mentioned two or three (generations) after his generation. He added, 'Then will come some people who will make vows but will not fulfill them; and they will be dishonest and will not be trustworthy, and they will give their witness without being asked to give their witness, and fatness will appear among them.' "
عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ خَيْرُكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ قَالَ عِمْرَانُ لاَ أَدْرِي ذَكَرَ ثِنْتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا بَعْدَ قَرْنِهِ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ يَنْذُرُونَ وَلاَ يَفُونَ وَيَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُؤْتَمَنُونَ وَيَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ
ʿImran bin Husain said: The Prophet ﷺ said, "The best people are my contemporaries (i.e., the present (my) generation) and then those who come after them (i.e., the next generation)." ʿImran added: I am not sure whether the Prophet ﷺ repeated the statement twice after his first saying. The Prophet ﷺ added, "And after them there will come people who will bear witness, though they will not be asked to give their witness; and they will be treacherous and nobody will trust them, and they will make vows, but will not fulfill them, and fatness will appear among them."
عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ خَيْرُكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ قَالَ عِمْرَانُ فَمَا أَدْرِي قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بَعْدَ قَوْلِهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ يَكُونُ بَعْدَهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُؤْتَمَنُونَ وَيَنْذِرُونَ وَلاَ يَفُونَ وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ
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 Messenger of Allah 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.
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِنَّ خَيْرَكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ قَالَ عِمْرَانُ فَلاَ أَدْرِي أَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعْدَ قَرْنِهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةً ثُمَّ يَكُونُ بَعْدَهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُتَّمَنُونَ وَيَنْذُرُونَ وَلاَ يُوفُونَ وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'The best of you are my generation, then those who come after them, then those whom after them, then those who come after them.' -I do not know if he said two times after him or three. Then he mentioned some people who betray and cannot be trusted, who bear witness without being asked to do so, who make vows and do not fulfill them, and fatness will prevail among them."
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ خَيْرُكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ فَلاَ أَدْرِي أَذَكَرَ مَرَّتَيْنِ بَعْدَهُ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ قَوْمًا يَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُؤْتَمَنُونَ وَيَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيُنْذِرُونَ وَلاَ يُوفُونَ وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ هَذَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عِمْرَانَ أَبُو جَمْرَةَ
the best of my people is the generation in which I have been sent, then their immediate followers, then their immediate followers. Allah knows best whether he mentioned the third or not. After them will be people who will give testimony without being asked, who will make vows which they do not fulfill, who will be treacherous and not to be trusted, among whom fatness will appear.
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي الْقَرْنُ الَّذِينَ بُعِثْتُ فِيهِمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ أَذَكَرَ الثَّالِثَ أَمْ لاَ ثُمَّ يَظْهَرُ قَوْمٌ يَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَنْذِرُونَ وَلاَ يُوفُونَ وَيَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُؤْتَمَنُونَ وَيَفْشُو فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ
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 Messenger of Allah 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. (Using translation from Muslim 2535a)
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِنَّ خَيْرَكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ قَالَ عِمْرَانُ فَلَا أَدْرِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بَعْدَ قَرْنِهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةً ثُمَّ يَكُونُ بَعْدَهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَشْهَدُونَ وَلَا يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَخُونُونَ وَلَا يُتَّمَنُونَ وَيَنْذُرُونَ وَلَا يُوفُونَ وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ
[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best of you is my generation, then those who follow them, and then those who follow them. I do not know if it is two times or three times, then there will come a people after you who will make promises but not fulfill them, who will lie and not be true, who will bear witness but not be trusted, and who will spread corruption among them."
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَيْرُكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ لَا أَدْرِي مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةً ثُمَّ يَأْتِي أَوْ يَجِيءُ بَعْدَكُمْ قَوْمٌ يَنْذُرُونَ فَلَا يُوفُونَ وَيَخُونُونَ وَلَا يُتَّمَنُونَ وَيَشْهَدُونَ وَلَا يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَفْشُو فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ
the best of my people is the generation in which I have been sent, then their immediate followers, then their immediate followers. Allah knows best whether he mentioned the third or not. After them will be people who will give testimony without being asked, who will make vows which they do not fulfill, who will be treacherous and not to be trusted, among whom fatness will appear. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 4657)
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي الْقَرْنُ الَّذِي بُعِثْتُ فِيهِمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ قَالَ وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ أَذَكَرَ الثَّالِثَ أَمْ لَا؟ ثُمَّ يَنْشَأُ قَوْمٌ يَشْهَدُونَ وَلَا يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَنْذُرُونَ وَلَا يُوفُونَ وَيَخُونُونَ وَلَا يُتَّمَنُونَ وَيَفْشُو فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ
the best of my people is the generation in which I have been sent, then their immediate followers, then their immediate followers. Allah knows best whether he mentioned the third or not. After them will be people who will give testimony without being asked, who will make vows which they do not fulfill, who will be treacherous and not to be trusted, among whom fatness will appear. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 4657)
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي الْقَرْنُ الَّذِي بُعِثْتُ فِيهِ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ ذَكَرَ الثَّالِثَ أَوْلَا ثُمَّ يَنْشَئُونَ قَوْمٌ يَشْهَدُونَ وَلَا يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَنْذُرُونَ وَلَا يُوفُونَ وَيَخُونُونَ وَلَا يُؤْتَمَنُونَ وَيَفْشُو فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ»
[Machine] The Prophet of Allah ﷺ said, "The best of my Ummah (nation) are those of my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them. Then there will come a group of people who bear witness but are not asked to bear witness, who take oaths but are not asked to take oaths, who betray and are not trusted, and who enjoy wealth but are not praised for it."
أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ «خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي الْقَرْنُ الَّذِي بُعِثْتُ فِيهِمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَنْشَأُ أَقْوَامٌ يَشْهَدُونَ وَلَا يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَحْلِفُونَ وَلَا يُسْتَحْلَفُونَ وَيَخُونُونَ وَلَا يُؤْتَمَنُونَ وَيَفْشُو فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ»
[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best of you is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them." Imran said, "I do not know if the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned after his generation two generations or three, then there will be people who give testimony without being asked to, and they will betray trust, and they will make false promises, and they will have fat in their bodies." And the wording is for Amr ibn Hakkam.
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «خَيْرُكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ» قَالَ عِمْرَانُ لَا أَدْرِي ذَكَرَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بَعْدَ قَرْنِهِ قَرْنَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثًا «ثُمَّ يَكُونُ بَعْدَهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَشْهَدُونَ وَلَا يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَخُونُونَ وَلَا يُؤْتَمَنُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ وَلَا يَفُونَ وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ» وَاللَّفْظُ لِعَمْرِو بْنِ حَكَّامٍ
I heard ʿImran 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)." ʿImran 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." (Using translation from Bukhārī 2651)
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ «خَيْرُكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ» فَلَا أَدْرِي ذَكَرَ قَرْنَيْنِ بَعْدُ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةً ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ قَوْمًا يَخُونُونَ وَلَا يَؤْتَمَنُونَ وَيَشهَدُونَ وَلَا يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَنْذِرُونَ وَلَا يُوفُونَ وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ
[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ said, "The best of you are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them. Then there will be a people after them who will betray and not be trustworthy, who will testify without being called to testify, who will make promises and not fulfill them, and who will have excess fat among them."
قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ خَيْرُكُمْ قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَكُونُ قَوْمٌ بَعْدَهُمْ يَخُونُونَ وَلَا يُؤْتَمَنُونَ وَيَشْهَدُونَ وَلَا يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ وَيَنْذِرُونَ وَلَا يُوفُونَ وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمْ السِّمَنُ