It was narrated on the authority of Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Surely, Allah, The Almighty, has some special people." They said: "O Messenger of Allah, who are those people?" He, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The people of the Quran are the people of Allah and His special servants.

Verification of the Hadeeth:

It was reported by At-Tayaalisi in Al-Musnad (2238), Ahmad in Al-Musnad (12279,12292 and 135422), Ad-Daarimi in Al-Musnad (3369), Ibn Maajah in As-Sunan, the introduction, the chapter of the virtue of the one who learns the Quran and teaches others (215), An-Nasaa'i in As-Sunan Al-Kubra (7977), the virtues of the Noble Quran (56), Al-Haakim in Al-Mustadrak, the book of the virtues of the Noble Quran, the chapter of the reports regarding the virtues of the Noble Quran (2069). ‘Uqbah said: 'This Hadeeth was reported from three different routes on the authority of Anas and this is the best of them. It was also reported by Al-Bazzaar in Al-Musnad (7369), Abu ‘Ubayd in Fadhaa'il Al-Qur'aan, p. 38, Ibn Nasr in Qiyaam Al-Lalyl, p. 74, Al-Ajuri in Akhlaaq Hamalat Al-Qur'aan (7).

Ad-Dumyaati deemed its Isnaad (i.e. chain of transmission) Saheeh (sound) in Al-Matjar Ar-Raabih (1183), Al-Munthiri in At-Targheeb (2/354), Al-Busayri in Musbaah Az-Zujaajah (1/91), Sheykh Al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Ibn Majah (178), Al-‘Iraaqi deemed it Hasan (good) in Takhreej Al-Ihyaa' (1/280), Ath-Thahabi said in Al-Mizaan (3/626) (Its Isnaad is valid) and Al-Haafith agreed with him in Al-Lisaan (5/254).

Explanation of the Hadeeth:

Amongst the forms of the perfect honors that Allah, The Almighty, prepared to the memorizers of His Noble Book that He, The Exalted, made them His people and special ones. This is really a great honor that there is nothing like it of what people seek in the worldly life. The weak servant that memorized the Noble Quran and contemplated it thoughtfully, acted upon it and submitted fully to its guidance to will be one of the people of Allah, The Almighty, and His special ones. There is absolutely no doubt that the people of Allah, The Almighty, and His special ones deserve greatest mercy, honor, love of Allah, The Almighty, and being close to him. That is the bounty of Allah, which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is All-Encompassing and Wise.

What is meant by the people of Allah, The Almighty, and His special ones in the above Hadeeth?

They are the memorizers of the Noble Quran who act upon it and pay utmost attention to it.

It was also said: 'They are those who dedicated themselves to serving it and because when He, The Exalted, brought them closer and chose them, they became His people. That is why it was said to the people of Makkah: 'People of Allah, The Almighty, because they inhabit its environment and its surrounding and thus they became its people.(1)'.

Whenever the created being chooses or prefers another one of the created beings, he brings him closer to him and bestows upon him great amount from his generosity, graces, and love. Then How would the case be with Allah, The Almighty, who is the Most Generous, and for Him is the highest attribute in the heavens and earth; the Owner of dominance, the Owner of Majesty and Honor.

How a great virtue! What a magnificent position and status that every believer surely seeks, and that every soul seeks the Sake of Allah, The Almighty, His Pleasure and Paradise longs certainly for.

Let everyone seeks whatever he likes and wishes of wealth, important positions and posts or fame and let dictionaries bring all descriptions, will they bring a better position or more perfect description than what the memorizers of the book of Allah, The Almighty, are given: "The people of Allah and His special ones (2)".

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(1) Refer to An-Nihaayah fi Ghareeb Al-Hadeeth (1/83), Lizaan Al-‘Arab (11/28), Sharh Sunan Ibn Maajah (1/20), Faydh Al-Qadeer (5/ 2341 - 2060). 

(2) Refer to Hifth Al-Qur'aan Al-Kareem, (p 15) and Anwaar Al-Qur'aan (p. 239).

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