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Narrated by MuslimAuthentic

Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange as it began. So, glad tidings to the strangers

Narrator in the source: Abu Hurayrah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah say:

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange as it began. So, glad tidings to the strangers."
Grade in the source
Authentic
Reported by
Narrated by Muslim
Source entry
HadeethEnc · 66219 ↗
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «بَدَأَ الْإِسْلَامُ غَرِيبًا، وَسَيَعُودُ كَمَا بَدَأَ غَرِيبًا، فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ».
Understand this hadith

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that Islam began as something strange, with few people embracing it, and it will return as something strange, with only a few upholding it, just as it began. So, great joy and glad tidings to the strangers, and happiness and contentment for them.

Lessons from the hadith
  • The report that Islam after its spread and popularity, will become strange again.
  • It includes one of the signs of prophethood, as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed about events that would occur after him, and they happened exactly as he had foretold.
  • The merit of those who abandon their homelands and their families for the sake of Islam is that they will have Paradise.
  • The strangers are those who stay righteous when people are corrupt and who reform what people corrupt.
References (original Arabic)

صحيح مسلم (1/ 130) (145). البحر المحيط الثجاج في شرح صحيح الإمام مسلم بن الحجاج (4/ 142). إكمال المعلم بفوائد مسلم (1/ 456).