مشكوة المصابيح
Mishkat al-Masabih
كتاب المناقب
The Book of Merits
(مَثَلُ الأُمَّةِ بِدُونِ الصَّحَابَةِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ)
(The example of the nation without the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them)
Hadith 6015
وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَثَلُ أَصْحَابِي فِي أُمَّتِي كَالْمِلْحِ فِي الطَّعَامِ لَا يَصْلُحُ الطَّعَامُ إِلَّا بِالْمِلْحِ» قَالَ الْحَسَنُ: فَقَدْ ذَهَبَ مِلْحُنَا فَكَيْفَ نصلح؟ رَوَاهُ فِي «شرح السّنة»
Anas reported God's messenger as saying, "Among my people my companions are like salt in food, for food is good only when there is salt in it." Al-Hasan[*] said, "Our salt has gone, so how can we be good?" *i.e., Al Hasan al Basri. It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.
