Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: A time will come when a Muslim army will be out for jihad. It will be asked: Are there any elders in the army who have had the company of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)? It will be said: Yes. Then (by bringing them forward for supplication) they will be asked to pray for victory. Then a time will come when it will be sought whether any elders can be found who have had the company of the companions of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (i.e., the Tabi‘een). Such elders will also be found and they will be asked to pray for victory. After that, a time will come when (the soldiers) will be asked: Are there any elders among you who have had the company of the students of the companions of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (i.e., the Taba‘ Tabi‘een)? It will be said: Yes, and they will be asked to pray for victory.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The best people are those of my generation, then those who will come after them, and then those who will come after them. Then there will come a time when people will give testimony before being asked to do so, and they will swear oaths before testifying.

Hazrat Imran bin Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The best among you are the people of my time (the Companions), then those who come after them (the Followers), then those who come after them (the Followers of the Followers). Imran said: I do not know whether the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned two generations after his own or three. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: After you, there will come people who will be deceitful, in whom there will be no trustworthiness. They will not be asked to bear witness, but they will offer testimonies. They will make vows, but will not fulfill them. Obesity will become common among them.