Question
I heard someone saying that a Sahabi (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said that they learnt Iman before they learnt Quran. And if they had not learnt Iman in Makkah Mukarramah then, they wouldn’t have accepted the laws that came in Madinah Munawwarah.
Answer
The first part of your query is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah and other Hadith collections on the authority of Sayyiduna Jundub ibn ‘Abdillah (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
Sayyiduna Jundub ibn ‘Abdillah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “We were with Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) as strong young men. We learnt Iman before learning the Quran. Then we learnt Quran and our Iman increased.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 61. See further references here)
As for the second part of your query, it appears to be someone’s interpretation or personal commentary. I have not come across it in any Hadith.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar
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التخريج من المصادر العربية
سنن ابن ماجه:
(٦١) – حدثنا علي بن محمد، حدثنا وكيع، حدثنا حماد بن نجيح، وكان ثقة، عن أبي عمران الجوني، عن جندب بن عبد الله، قال: كنا مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ونحن فتيان حزاورة، فتعلمنا الإيمان قبل أن نتعلم القرآن، ثم تعلمنا القرآن، فازددنا به إيمانا.