Compiled by Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، وَأَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الْعَتَكِيُّ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ زَيْدٍ - عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي أَسْمَاءَ، عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَزَالُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي ظَاهِرِينَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ لاَ يَضُرُّهُمْ مَنْ خَذَلَهُمْ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ وَهُمْ كَذَلِكَ " . وَلَيْسَ فِي حَدِيثِ قُتَيْبَةَ " وَهُمْ كَذَلِكَ " .
A group of people from my Umma will always remain triumphant on the right path and continue to be triumphant (against their opponents). He who deserts them shall not be able to do them any harm. They will remain in this position until Allah's Command is executed (i.e. Qiyamah is established). In Qutaiba's version of the tradition, we do not have the words:" They will remain in this position."