Question
Kindly provide the reference and translation of the following narration:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أتى المقبرة، فقال: السلام عليكم دار قوم مؤمنين، وإنا إن شاء الله بكم لاحقون، وددت أنا قد رأينا إخواننا قالوا: أولسنا إخوانك؟ يا رسول الله قال: أنتم أصحابي وإخواننا الذين لم يأتوا بعد فقالوا: كيف تعرف من لم يأت بعد من أمتك يا رسول الله؟ فقال: أرأيت لو أن رجلا له خيل غر محجلة بين ظهري خيل دهم بهم ألا يعرف خيله؟ قالوا: بلى يا رسول الله قال: فإنهم يأتون غرا محجلين من الوضوء، وأنا فرطهم على الحوض ألا ليذادن رجال عن حوضي كما يذاد البعير الضال أناديهم ألا هلم فيقال: إنهم قد بدلوا بعدك فأقول سحقا سحقا
Answer
Imam Muslim (rahimahullah) and others have recorded this narration on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 249)
Translation
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) has reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) once came to the graveyard and said: ‘Peace be upon you O [inhabitants of] the abode of the believers. Indeed, we will be meeting with you if [and when] Allah [Ta’ala wills]. I would have most certainly loved to have seen our brethren.’
They [i.e., – the companions of Rasulullah – sallalalhu ‘alayhi wa sallam] enquired: O Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam], are we not your brethren?
He [i.e., Rasulullah – sallalalhu ‘alayhi wa sallam] replied: ‘You are my companions, and our brethren are those who have not yet come.’
They then asked: How will you recognize those amongst your Ummah [nation] who have not yet arrived?
He said: ‘Tell me, if a man owned horses, which had white patches on their foreheads and legs, and were [mixed in] with other horses, which were dark and black [having no other colour], would he not recognize his horses?
They replied: “Of course O Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam]!
He [then] said: Indeed, they will come [on the day of judgement] with shining foreheads, [faces] and limbs due to the [traces of] wudu, and I will be their scout [waiting for them] at the pond! Behold, [some] individuals will be driven away just as a lost camel is driven away. I will call out to them [saying:], come here! [But] then it will be said: “Verily they have changed after you”
I will then say: Away! Away! [i.e., Stay far away!]
(Refer: Al-Minhaj, Hadith: 583; Also see: Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 247-248)
And Allah Ta’ala knows best.
Answered by: Mawlana Farhan Shariff
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar