Glad tidings to the one who believed

It was narrated from Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (صلىالله عليه وسلم) said: “Glad tidings to the one who believed in me and saw me, and sevenfold glad tidings to the one who believed in me but did not see me.” Narrated by Ahmad in al-Musnad (3/155). The scholars said: it is hasan li ghayrihi (hasan because of corroborating evidence). It was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (1241), A similar hadeeth was narrated from a number of the Sahaabah. Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Sharh Muslim (2/176): With regard to the meaning of glad tidings (tooba): the mufassireen differed concerning the meaning of the words of Allaah “Tooba (all kinds of happiness or name of a tree in Paradise) is for them and a beautiful place of (final) return” [al-Ra’d 13:29]. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that what it means is joy and delight. ‘Ikrimah said: Joy that will be theirs. Al-Dahhaak said: Bliss that will be theirs. Qataadah said: Goodness that will be theirs. It was also narrated from Qataadah that it means that they will attain goodness. Ibraaheem said: Goodness and honour that will be theirs. Ibn ‘Ajlaan said: Eternal goodness. And it was said: Paradise, or a tree in Paradise. All of these meanings may be applied to the hadeeth. And Allaah knows best. End quote. It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (صلىالله عليه وسلم) went out to the graveyard and said: “Peace be upon the abode of believing people, and if Allaah wills we will join you soon. Would that I could see our brothers.” They said: Are we not your brothers, O Messenger of Allaah? He said: “You are my companions. Our brothers are those who have not come yet. I will reach the Cistern before them.” They said: O Messenger of Allaah, how will you recognize those of your ummah who came after you? He said: “Do you not see that if a man has a horse that has a white blaze and white feet among horses that are all black, will he not recognize his horse?” They said: Of course. He said: “They will come to me with bright faces and limbs (like the white markings of a horse) because of the traces of wudoo’, and I will reach the Cistern before them.” Narrated by Muslim (249), al-Nasaa’i (150), and this is his version. See also al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (2888).