Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God's messenger as saying, "A time is coming to mankind when a party will go to fight and be asked if there are among them any who were companions of God's messenger; and when they reply that there are, they will be given victory. Then a time is coming to mankind when a party will go to fight, and when they are asked if there are any among them who associated with the companions of God's messenger and reply that there are, they will be given victory. Then a time is coming to mankind when a party of people will go to fight, and when they are asked if there are any among them who associated with those who associated with the companions of God's messenger and reply that there are, they will be given victory." (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim he said, "A time is coming to mankind when an expedition will be sent forth from among them, and when they are asked to see whether they can find one of the companions of God's messenger among them and one is found, they will be given victory. Then a second expedition will be sent forth, and when they are asked if they include anyone who saw the companions of God's messenger and one is found, they will be given victory. Then a third expedition will be sent forth and people will be asked to look and see whether they include anyone who saw anyone who saw the Prophet's companions. Then there will be a fourth expedition and people will be asked to look and see whether they include anyone who saw anyone who saw anyone who saw the Prophet's companions. A man will be found and victory will be given because of him." Muslim.

Imran b. Husain reported God's messenger as saying, "The best of my people are my generation, then their immediate followers, then their immediate followers. After them there will be people who give testimony without being asked, who will be treacherous and not to be trusted, who will make vows which they do not fulfil, among whom fatness [*] will appear." A version has "They will swear oaths without being asked to do so." *Mirqat 5:520 f., gives various explanations of this, including unjustified pride, unjustified claims to nobility, acquisition of wealth, elaborate food and drink, neglect of religious duties. It is obviously some unsatisfactory characteristic which is intended. The various meanings suggested might be combine by treating it as meaning fine living which leads to neglect of religion. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

A version by Muslim on the authority of Abu Huraira says, "Then people who like plumpness will succeed them." Muslim.

`Umar reported God's messenger as saying, "Honour my companions, for they are the best of you; then those who follow them immediately; then those who follow them immediately. Then falsehood will appear so that a man will swear oaths without being asked to do so, and give testimony Without being asked to do so. He who would like to get to the very middle of paradise must adhere to the community, for the devil is with a single person, but farther away from two. A man must not be alone with a woman, for the devil makes a third along with them. He who is pleased by his good deeds and vexed by his evil gives various explanations of this, including unjustified pride, unjustified claims to nobility, acquisition of wealth, elaborate food and drink, neglect of religious duties. It is obviously some unsatisfactory characteristic which is intended. The various meanings suggested might be combined by treating it as meaning fine living which leads to neglect of religion deeds is a believer." ...transmitted it. The source is omitted in the Mishkat. Mirqat, 5:521, says it is rendered by Nasai. I have not discovered it in Nasai, but there is a version of the tradition containing the various details but differing slightly in wording in Tirmidhi, Fitan, 7.

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, "Hell will not touch a Muslim who has seen me or seen one who has seen me." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Abdallah b. Mughaffal reported God's messenger as saying, "Fear God regarding my companions, fear God regarding my companions, and do not make them a target [*] after I am gone. He who loves them does so from love of me, and he who hates them does so from hatred of me. He who injures them has injured me, he who injures me has injured God, and he who injures God will soon be punished by Him." *This refers to criticizing them and speaking evil of them. Tirmidhi transmitted it,saying this is a gharib tradition.

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "Among my people my companions are like salt in food, for food is good only when there is salt in it." Al-Hasan [*] said, "Our salt has gone, so how can we be good?" *i.e., Al Hasan al Basri. It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.

`Abdallah b. Buraida told that his father quoted the Prophet as saying, "Not one of my companions will die in a land without being raised as a leader and a light for its people on the day of resurrection." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this a gharib tradition.

Ibn `Umar reported God's messenger as saying, "When you see people who revile my companions say, 'God's curse be on your worst ones'." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`Umar b. al-Khattab told he heard God's messenger say he had asked his Lord about disagreement among his companions after his death and received the revelation, "Your companions, Muhammad, are in my estimation in the position of the stars in the sky, some stronger than others, but all having light. So, I consider him who holds to anything about which they disagree to be rightly guided." He also told that God's messenger said, "My companions are like the stars, so whichever of them you copy, you will be guided." Razin transmitted it.