Discussion.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The author stated in a summary of the beliefs of the people of the Sunnah and the community: We believe that this Ummah is the most noble of nations in the sight of Allah and the best of nations, and he provided evidence for this. What is the evidence? You? Yes.
The student: Me?
The Shaykh : No, the one behind you, what is the evidence? Did you not attend? Answer? If you are mute, then by gesture.
The student: Perhaps I did not notice.
The Shaykh : The one behind you, my brother. The one behind you. You. Yes. Here. The one wearing only a cap. Here, come on, what is the evidence that this Ummah is the best of nations?
The student :[Ali 'Imran 3:110].
The Shaykh : Good. How do we reconcile this with the saying of Allah the Exalted to the Children of Israel:[Al-Jathiyah 45:16]?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : And those before them. The Children of Israel were preferred over the people of their time and those before them, is that right? Good.
Who is the best of this Ummah?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : No, I mean in terms of generations?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : No, my brother, I am asking who is the best of this Ummah?
The student: Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him).
The Shaykh : No, in terms of generations?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Huh?
The student: The generation that saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : The Companions, the Companions, then? The Tabi'un, then those who followed them.
Good. What is the evidence for this?
The student:Sahih al-Bukhari 3651.
The Shaykh :Sahih al-Bukhari 3651 . Good. Does this preference of one generation over another imply that every individual of one generation is better than every individual of the next generation, or is the meaning the general type?
The student: The meaning is the general type.
The Shaykh : The meaning is the general type, meaning: it is possible that among the followers of the Tabi'un there is someone who is better than some of the Tabi'un, correct? Yes. And likewise, it is possible that among the Tabi'un there is someone who is better than some of the Companions in knowledge and benefit to the Ummah, even though companionship cannot be equaled by anything, because it is only for the Companions. Good.
The author stated in a summary of the beliefs of the people of the Sunnah and the community: We believe that this Ummah is the most noble of nations in the sight of Allah and the best of nations, and he provided evidence for this. What is the evidence? You? Yes.
The student: Me?
The Shaykh : No, the one behind you, what is the evidence? Did you not attend? Answer? If you are mute, then by gesture.
The student: Perhaps I did not notice.
The Shaykh : The one behind you, my brother. The one behind you. You. Yes. Here. The one wearing only a cap. Here, come on, what is the evidence that this Ummah is the best of nations?
The student :
You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.
كنتم خير أمة أخرجت للناس تأمرون بالمعروف وتنهون عن المنكر وتؤمنون باللهThe Shaykh : Good. How do we reconcile this with the saying of Allah the Exalted to the Children of Israel:
preferred them over the worlds.
فضلناهم على العالمينThe student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : And those before them. The Children of Israel were preferred over the people of their time and those before them, is that right? Good.
Who is the best of this Ummah?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : No, I mean in terms of generations?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : No, my brother, I am asking who is the best of this Ummah?
The student: Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him).
The Shaykh : No, in terms of generations?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Huh?
The student: The generation that saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : The Companions, the Companions, then? The Tabi'un, then those who followed them.
Good. What is the evidence for this?
The student:
The best people are those living in my generation, and then those who will follow them, and then those who will follow the latter
خير الناس قرني ثم الذين يلونهم ثم الذين يلونهمThe Shaykh :
The best people are those living in my generation, and then
خير الناس قرني ثم الذين؟and those who come after them
ثم الذين يلونهمThe student: The meaning is the general type.
The Shaykh : The meaning is the general type, meaning: it is possible that among the followers of the Tabi'un there is someone who is better than some of the Tabi'un, correct? Yes. And likewise, it is possible that among the Tabi'un there is someone who is better than some of the Companions in knowledge and benefit to the Ummah, even though companionship cannot be equaled by anything, because it is only for the Companions. Good.