Which of the believers are the most intelligent?

Reference: Declared hasan by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Silsilah al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah by virtue of all its different chains of narration.

On the authority of Ibn ‘Umar (radhi-yAllaahu ‘anhumaa) who said:

I was with the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ when a man from the Ansaar came up to the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ and greeted him with the salaam and then said: O Messenger of Allaah ﷺ which of the believers are the best?

He replied:

Those who are best in character.

Then he asked: Which of the believers are the most intelligent?

He replied:

Those who remember death the most, and those who are best prepared for what comes after it. These are the intelligent ones.


Translation originally published on 22 March, 2001.

Graduate of the Islaamic University of Madeenah, having completed the Arabic Language programme at the Institute of Arabic Language before progressing to the Faculty of Sharee'ah, from which he graduated in 2004. He currently resides in Birmingham, UK.

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