We were first given Imaan...

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Jundub Ibn `Abdullaah al-Bajaly رضي الله عنه said: “We were youths around the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. We (first) learned Imaan (faith) and then we learned the Qur’aan and it (the Qur’aan) increased our Imaan.” [Sunan Ibn Maajah (61) and authenticated by Shaikh al-Albaanee. Also authenticated by Shaikh Muqbil in “al-Saheeh al-Musnad” (285)] 

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In the version of Al-Baihaqee: on the authority of Jundub رضي الله عنه that he said: “We were youths around the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. He صلى الله عليه وسلم would teach us Imaan before the Qur’aan; and then (later) he صلى الله عليه وسلم would teach us the Qur’aan. And it (the Qur’aan) increased our Imaan. But as for you today, you are taught the Qur’aan before Imaan.” [Sunan al-Kubraa (5070)]

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`Abdullaah ibn `Umar رضي الله عنه said, “We lived during an instant of time in which one of us would receive Imaan (faith) first before receiving the Qur’aan. And when the Surahs were revealed to (Prophet) Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, we would learn what they permitted and what they prohibited and what they commanded and what they forbade and what should be the stance towards them. But I have seen many men, from whom one is given the Qur’aan before Imaan, and he reads it from the opening of the Book to its closing and he does not know what it orders and what it forbids and what should be his stance towards it. He is like someone who is just throwing out dates [i.e., he does not get any benefit from his recital].” [al-Haakim in his “al-Mustadrak” (101) said: “It is Saheeh as per the condition of the Shaikhain (al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) and I do not know of any defect in it, but they did not record it.” Also reported by al-Baihaqee in “Sunan al-Kubraa” (5073) and the wordings are his.]

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Hudhaifah (bin al-Yaamaan) رضي الله عنه said: “We are the (group of) people, who were given Imaan before they were given the Qur’aan. And you are the (group of) people, who were given the Qur’aan before they were given Imaan.” [al-Baihaqee “Sunan al-Kubraa” (5074)]

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`Abdullaah ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه said: “Whenever we used to learn (memorize) ten ayaat from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, we did not pursue to learn the next ten ayaat which were revealed after it, till we understood the meaning of what we had already learned.” [al-Haakim in “al-Mustadrak” (1/743), al-Baihaqee (5072)]

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Narrated Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما: When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sent Mu`aadh رضي الله عنه to Yemen, he said to him, “You are going to a nation from the people of the Scripture, so let the first thing to which you will invite them, be the Tawheed of Allaah. If they learn that, tell them that Allaah has enjoined on them, five prayers to be offered in one day and one night. And if they pray, tell them that Allaah has enjoined on them Zakaah of their properties and it is to be taken from the rich among them and given to the poor. And if they agree to that, then take from them Zakaah but avoid the best property of the people.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1458, 7372) and Muslim (19). In the version of Muslim it is: “the first thing you to which you will invite them is ‘None has the right to be worshiped except Allaah and that I am the Messenger of Allaah’.”]