Hadithcore
Riyad as-Salihin, 439

Abu Mu sa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When Allah intends to show mercy to a people, He collects their Prophet (ﷺ) before them and makes him a herald to happiness for them in the Hereafter; and when He intends to destroy a people, He punishes them while their Prophet (ﷺ) is alive, and destroys them while he is alive and watches them and makes him witness their destruction because they disbelieved in him and disobeyed his commands". <b>[Muslim]</b>.

وعن أبي موسى الأشعري، رضي الله عنه ، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏

‏ إذا أراد الله تعالى، رحمة أمةٍ ، قبض نبيها قبلها، فجعله لها فرطاً وسلفاً بين يديها، وإذا أراد هلكة أمةٍ، عذبها ونبيها حي، فأهلكها وهو حى ينظر، فأقر عينه بهلاكها حين كذبوه وعصوا امره‏

‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

References1 variant
In-Book Reference
Introduction, Hadith 439
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadith:</b><br> 1) Allah is gentle and kind to this Ummah of Muhammad - may Allah increase them in honor - as He caused their Prophet to die before them.<br> 2) The prophets cared about their peoples and were keen to look after them and set their affairs right.<br> 3) The punishment and destruction of the disbelievers is a kind of victory for the path of the prophets (peace be upon them) and their followers.
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