Mu'jam al-Saghir

Hadith Commentary:

In another narration, it is stated: like a single black hair on a white ox.
The intended meaning is that, in this world, the number of polytheists and sinners has always been very large, and Allah’s monotheist and believing servants have always been fewer than these polytheists and disbelievers, so there is nothing surprising in this.
It is clearly mentioned in the Noble Qur’an:
﴿وَقَلِيلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ﴾ () (Saba: 13)
Very few of My servants are grateful.
Generally, this is the case, and even among Muslims, the number of those who adhere to monotheism (tawhid) and the Sunnah has always remained small. The number of those who nowadays are called Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah can be observed at the gatherings of ‘urs and ta‘ziyah.
You will find polytheists and innovators in abundance.
The people of monotheism, those who are bound to the Shari‘ah, and those who are devoted to the Sunnah are extremely few.
May Allah the Exalted make us practitioners of monotheism and the Sunnah, and true obedient followers of Islam.
Amin.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
In this world of color and scent, the number of disbelievers and sinners is becoming much greater compared to the people of faith. The true monotheistic servants of Allah have always been very few, as Allah the Exalted has stated:
“Very few of My servants are grateful.” ( Saba: 34/13)
This matter is further clarified in another hadith in which the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
“There will be one hundred and twenty rows of the people of Paradise, of which eighty rows will be from my ummah.” (Musnad Ahmad: 5/347)
(2)
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) mentioned the number of Muslims in Paradise gradually so that their happiness and joy would continue to increase.

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
(1)
Sabab:
To abuse verbally,
To find fault with someone’s honor and dignity.

(2)
Al-Fisq:
To go out,
To depart, that is, to abandon truth and righteousness,
To commit disobedience.

Benefits and Issues:
(1)
The benefit of giving glad tidings gradually, from lesser to greater, is that in this way greater happiness is attained, and the magnitude of the blessing is felt more profoundly.

(2)
The era of the Ummah of Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is also lengthy, and its number of individuals is also greater; therefore, their number among the people of Paradise will also be greater.