Hadith: We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) while we were young men close to maturity. We learned Imān (faith) before we learned the Qur’an; then we learned the Qur’an, and it increased us in faith

عَنْ جُنْدُبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رَضيَ اللهُ عنهُ قَالَ:
كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَنَحْنُ فِتْيَانٌ حَزَاوِرَةٌ، فَتَعَلَّمْنَا الإِيمَانَ قَبْلَ أَنْ نَتَعَلَّمَ القُرْآنَ، ثُمَّ تَعَلَّمْنَا القُرْآنَ، فَازْدَدْنَا بِهِ إِيمَانًا.
[صحيح] - [رواه ابن ماجه] - [سنن ابن ماجه: 61]

Jundub ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) while we were young men close to maturity. We learned Imān (faith) before we learned the Qur’an; then we learned the Qur’an, and it increased us in faith.
[Authentic] - [Narrated by Ibn Maajah] - [Sunan Ibn Mājah - 61]

Explanation

Jundub ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) as young men near the age of puberty—strong and powerful. We learned faith at the hands of the Prophet (ﷺ) before learning the Qur’an. Then, when we learned the Qur’an, it increased our faith.

Benefits from the Hadith

1. Highlighting the fact that faith increases and decreases.
2. It shows the importance of setting priorities in raising the young, focusing first on instilling faith in their hearts.
3. The Qur’an increases faith, enlightens the heart, and brings comfort to the chest.