What was The Prophet (SAW) Indicating?


Abu Huraira reported: We were sitting in the company of Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) that Sura al-Jumu'a was revealed to him and when he recited (these words):" Others from amongst them who have not yet joined them," Then a person amongst them (those who were sitting there) said: Allah's Messenger...! But Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) made no reply, until he questioned him once, twice or thrice. There was amongst us Salman al Farisi (The Persian). The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) placed his hand on Salman and then said: Even if faith were near the Pleiades (The furthest Planet), a man from amongst these (Presians) would surely find it. (Book 031, Number 6178)

another version

Narrated Abu Huraira: While we were sitting with the Prophet Surat Al-Jumu'a was revealed to him, and when the Verse, "And He (Allah) has sent him (Muhammad) also to other (Muslims).....' (62.3) was recited by the Prophet, I said, "Who are they, O Allah's Apostle?" The Prophet did not reply till I repeated my question thrice. At that time, Salman Al-farisi was with us. So Allah's Apostle put his hand on Salman, saying, "If Faith were at (the place of) Ath-Thuraiya (the highest star), even then some men or man from these people (i.e. Salman's folk, persians) would attain it." (Book 60, Hadith 420,Sahih Bukhari).

But in Darus Salam's translation of Tafsir ibn Khathir by Mohsin Khan, leaves out the commentary of Muffassir ibn Kathir. In the commentary ibn Kathir says that the Ulama hold the view that when Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) placed his mubarak hand on Salman Farsi (R.A.) and said "a man from these people would attain it", they believe that this man can be no one else except al-Imam al-Azam Abu Hanifah (R.A.). Because no one from Persia has attained such status in all the branches of Islam as Imam Abu Hanifa.

The obove is the opinion of Muffasir ibn Kathir and many other great classical Sholars and it can be found in the original arabic version.

Imam Abu Hanifa Please click on link to see what the Great Scholars of Hadith have to say. See What Yahya bin Saeed alQattan and Yahya ibn Maeen says about Imam Abu Hanifa. You will be amazed!