from you the haughtiness of the Age of Ignorance and its boastfulness about forefathers. A person is either a righteous believer or a wretched sinner. All of you are children of Adam, and Adam was fashioned from dust. Let certain men give up priding themselves in ancestors who are nothing but charcoal from the Charcoal of Hellfire—otherwise they will become to Allah less significant than the dung-beetle that pushes foul carrion with its nose.’
This ḥadith is reported by Abū Dāwūd and others, and it is authentic.
The Prophet thus linked arrogance and boastful pride to the Age of Ignorance, and in doing so he condemned them. Because their censure arises from their association with Jāhiliyyah, it follows that every matter attributed to that era is likewise blameworthy.
(1) Manuscript A reads: “ghabnat al-Jahiliyyah fakhruha,” manuscript B: “aybat al-Jahiliyyah,” and manuscript T: “utbat al-Jahiliyyah.” All are scribal corruptions.
(2) The word al-ubiyyah denotes arrogance, swagger, and boastful pride; see Sharh al-Sunnah by al-Baghawi 13:124.
(3) The printed edition has: “bi-anifiha.”
(4) Reported by Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book of Manners, chapter “Boasting of lineage,” no. 5116 (5:339–340). The author rules it authentic.
(5) Also narrated by al-Tirmidhi, Sunan, Book of Merits, chapter “The virtue of Syria and Yemen,” nos. 3955–3956 (5:734–735). His wording shows minor reordering. Al-Tirmidhi remarked: “Other transmitters include Ibn Umar and Ibn Abbas.” After the first version (3955) he said: “A hasan gharib hadith,” and after the second (3956): “This version is sounder in our view. Saʿid al-Maqburi heard from Abu Hurayrah and transmits many reports from his father on Abu Hurayrah’s authority.” See Sunan al-Tirmidhi 5:734–735.
(6) Manuscript B reads “al-aybah,” which, as noted, is erroneous.
(7) The printed text has: “yadhummahuma.”
(8) The printed text reads: “dhammāhuma bi-kawnihimā mudāfayn,” using the dual, whereas all manuscripts have the singular; I have adopted the latter.
(9) The printed text reads: “dhamm kull al-umur.”