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Selections from Hadith
Hadith & Sunnah
Dr. Shehzad Saleem
 

1. Refraining from Backbiting

 

عَنْ اَبي هُرَيْرَةَ اَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ اَتَدْرُوْنَ ما الْغِيبَةُ قَالُوْا اللهِ وَرَسُوْلُهُ اَعْلَمُ قَالَ ذِكْرُكَ اَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ قِيْلَ اَفَرَاَيْتَ اِنْ كَانَ فِيْ اَخِي مَا اَقُوْلُ قال اِنْ كَانَ فِيْه ما تَقُوْلُ فَقَدْ اغْتَبْتَهُ وَاِنْ لم يَكُنْ فيه فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ

 Abu Hurayrah (rta) reported that God’s Messenger (sws) said: “Do you know what is backbiting?” The companions replied: “God and His Messenger know best.” Thereupon, the Prophet (sws) said: “Backbiting implies you talk about your brother in a manner which he does not like.” It was asked: “What do you say if [the fault] I mention is actually found in my brother?” The Prophet (sws) said: “If it is actually found [in him] you [are guilty of] backbiting, and if it is not found in him, then you [are guilty of] slandering him.”1

 

 

2. Gentleness

 

عَنْ جَرِيرٍ عَنْ النَّبِی صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنْ يُحْرَمْ الرِّفْقَ يُحْرَمْ الْخَيْرَ

Jarir (rta) reported that the Prophet (sws) said: “He who is devoid of gentleness is in fact devoid of goodness.”2

 

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِی صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَیهِ وَسَلَّمَ اَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ يا عَائِشَةُ اِنَّ اللهَ رَفِيقٌ يُحِبُّ الرِّفْقَ ويعطي علي الرِّفْقِ ما لَا يعطى علي الْعُنْفِ وما لَا يعطى علي ما سِوَاهُ

 

‘A’ishah (rta), the wife of the Prophet (sws), reported that God’s Messenger (sws) said: “‘A’ishah! Indeed, God is gentle and He loves gentleness and gives [to a person who shows] gentleness what He does not give [to a person who shows] harshness and what He does not give to any other person.”3

 

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِی صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ النَّبِی صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ اِنَّ الرِّفْقَ لَا يَكُونُ فِيْ شَيْءٍ الا زَانَهُ وَلاَ يُنْزَعُ من شَيْءٍ إلا شَانَهُ

 

‘A’ishah (rta), the wife of the Prophet (sws), reported that God’s Messenger (sws) said: “Whenever gentleness is found in something it increases its grandeur and when it is taken away from anything it makes it flawed.”4

 

 

3. Refraining from Deception

 

عَنْ ابي هُرَيْرَةَ اَنَّهُ سمع رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُوْلُ اِنَّ شَرَّ الناس ذُو الْوَجْهَيْنِ الذي يَاْتِي هَؤُلَاءِ بِوَجْهٍ وَهَؤُلَاءِ بِوَجْهٍ

 

Abu Hurayrah (rta) reported that he heard God’s Messenger (sws) say: “The worst amongst the people is he who has two faces; to some people he comes with one face and to others with another.”5

 

 

4. White Lies

 

حُمَيْدُ بن عبد الرحمن بن عَوْفٍ أَنَّ أُمَّهُ أُمَّ كُلْثُومٍ بِنْتَ عُقْبَةَ بن أبي مُعَيْطٍ وَكَانَتْ من الْمُهَاجِرَاتِ الْأُوَلِ اللَّاتِي بَايَعْنَ النَّبِی صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ اَخْبَرَتْهُ أنها سَمِعَتْ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهو يقول ليس الْكَذَّابُ الذي يُصْلِحُ بين الناس وَيَقُولُ خَيْرًا وينمي خَيْرًا

 

Humayd ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf reported that his mother Umm Kulthum bint ‘Uqbah ibn Abi Mu‘it (rta), who was amongst the first emigrants who pledged allegiance to God’s Messenger (sws), informed him that she heard God’s Messenger (sws) as saying: “A liar is not one who tries to reconcile people and speaks good [in order to bring people together] or he conveys what is good.”6

 

 

5. Telling the Truth

 

عَنْ عَبْد اللّٰهِ قَالَ قال رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ فان الصِّدْقَ يهدى الي الْبِرِّ وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يهدى إلي الْجَنَّةِ وما يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَصْدُقُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الصِّدْقَ حتي يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللهِ صِدِّيقًا وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالْكَذِبَ فإن الْكَذِبَ يهدى إلي الْفُجُورِ وَاِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يهدى الي النَّارِ وما يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَكْذِبُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الْكَذِبَ حتي يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللهِ كَذَّابًا

 

‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (rta) stated that God’s Messenger (sws) said: “It is mandatory upon you to tell the truth, because truth leads to virtue and virtue leads to Paradise, and a person who continues to speak the truth and endeavours to tell the truth and makes it his objective in life is eventually recorded as truthful with God. And refrain from lying because lying leads to vice and vice leads to the Fire [of Hell], and a person who keeps telling lies and lying becomes his objective, is eventually recorded as a liar with God.”7

 

 

6. Restraining Anger

 

عَنْ اَبي هُرَيْرَةَ اَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ قال ليس الشَّدِيدُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ إنما الشَّدِيدُ الذي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ

 

Abu Hurayrah (rta) reported that God’s Messenger (sws) said: “A strong person is not the one who wrestles well but the one who controls himself in anger.”8

 

عَنْ ابي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيْ اللهُ عِنْهُ اَنَّ رَجُلًا قال لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ اَوْصِنِي قال لَا تَغْضَبْ فَرَدَّدَ مِرَارًا قال لَا تَغْضَبْ

 

Abu Hurayrah (rta) reports that a person requested the Prophet (sws): “Counsel me.” He replied: “Do not be angry.” He repeated this statement several times.9

 

سُلَيْمَانُ بن صُرَدٍ قال اسْتَبَّ رَجُلَانِ عِنْدَ النَّبِی صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَجَعَلَ أَحَدُهُمَا يَغْضَبُ وَيَحْمَرُّ وَجْهُهُ فَنَظَرَ اليه النَّبِی صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ فقال اِني لَأَعْلَمُ كَلِمَةً لو قَالَهَا لَذَهَبَ ذَا عنه اَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ  الرَّجِيْمِ

 

Sulayman ibn Surad (rta) reported that two persons abused each other in the presence of God’s Messenger (sws). It so happened that one of them became very angry and his face became red. The Messenger of God looked at him and said: “I know some words which if he were to utter, he would get rid of his anger; [the words are:] “I seek refuge with God from Satan, the accursed.”10

 

 

7. Showing Affection

 

عَنْ اَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ الْأَقْرَعَ بن حَابِسٍ اَبْصَرَ النَّبِی صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَیهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُقَبِّلُ الْحَسَنَ فقال اِنَّ لي عَشْرَةً من الْوَلَدِ ما قَبَّلْتُ وَاحِدًا منهم فقال رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ اِنْه من لَا يَرْحَمْ لَا يُرْحَمْ

 

Abu Hurayrah (rta) reports that al-Aqra‘ ibn Habis saw the Prophet (sws) kissing [his grandson] al-Hasan whereupon al-Aqra‘ said: “I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them.” At this, God’s Messenger (sws) said: “He who is not affectionate to others will not be shown affection [from God].”11

 

 

8. Causing Convenience for People

 

عَنْ اَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِی صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ قال لقد رَايت رَجُلًا يَتَقَلَّبُ في الْجَنَّةِ في شَجَرَةٍ قَطَعَهَا من ظَهْرِ الطَّرِيقِ كانت تؤذى الناس

 

Abu Hurayrah (rta) reported that God’s Messenger (sws) said: “I have seen a person [in a dream] enjoying himself in Paradise because of the tree that he chopped from a pathway which was a source of botheration for people.”12

 

اَبُوْ بَرْزَةَ قَالَ قلت يا نَبِيَّ اللهِ عَلِّمْنِي شيئا أَنْتَفِعُ بِهِ قال اعْزِلْ الْأَذَى عن طَرِيقِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

 

Abu Barzah (rta) reported: “I said: ‘O Prophet of God! Teach me something which is beneficial to me.’ He said: ‘Remove things from the paths of the Muslims which are [a source] of bother [for them].’”13

 

 

9. Refraining from Slander

 

عَنْ عَبْد اللّٰهِ  بن مَسْعُودٍ قال اِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا  صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ قال الا اُنَبِّئُكُمْ ما العضة هِيَ النَّمِيمَةُ الْقَالَةُ بين الناس

 

‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (rta) reported that Muhammad (sws) said: “Should I inform you what slander is? It is tale-carrying which sows dissension amongst people.” 14

 

 

10. Appearance can be Misleading

 

عَنْ اَبَيْ هُرَيْرَةَ اَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ قال رُبَّ أَشْعَثَ مَدْفُوعٍ بِالْأَبْوَابِ لو أَقْسَمَ علي اللهِ لَأَبَرَّهُ

 

Abu Hurayrah (rta) reported that God’s Messenger (sws) said: “Many a person with disheveled hair and laden with dust who are turned away from the doors are such that if they swear by God, God will fulfill their oath.”15

 

 

11. Kindness to Neighbours

 

بن عُمَرَ يقول قال رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ ما زَالَ جِبْرِيلُ يوصيني بِالْجَارِ حتي ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُوَرِّثُهُ

 

Ibn ‘Umar (rta) states that God’s Messenger (sws) said: “Gabriel would continue to urge me [to be kind] towards the neighbour so much that I thought as if he would make him an heir [in inheritance].”16

 

عَنْ ابي ذَرٍّ قال قال رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ يا اَبَا ذَرٍّ إذا طَبَخْتَ مَرَقَةً فَأَكْثِرْ مَاءَهَا وَتَعَاهَدْ جِيرَانَكَ

 

Abu Dharr (rta) reported that God’s Messenger (sws) said: “O Abu Dharr! When you prepare the broth, add water to it and [in this way] care for your neighbour.”17

 

عن أبي شُرَيْحٍ اَنَّ النَّبِی صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَال والله لَا يُؤْمِنُ والله لَا يُؤْمِنُ والله لَا يُؤْمِنُ قِيلَ وَمَنْ يا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ قال الذي لَا يَاْمَنُ جَارُهُ بوائقه

 

Abu Shurayh (rta) reports that the Prophet (sws) said: “By God! That person will not be a believer. By God! That person will not be a believer. By God! That person will not be a believer.” People asked: “Who O Messenger of God?” He replied: “A person whose neighbour is not secure from his mischief.”18

 

 

12. Cheerful Countenance

 

عن أبي ذَرٍّ قال قال لِيَ النَّبِی صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا تَحْقِرَنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ شيئا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَلْقَي اَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ طَلْقٍ

 

Abu Dharr (rta) stated: “the Prophet (sws) said to me: ‘Do not consider anything among good conduct to be insignificant even if it is [as trivial as] meeting your brother with a cheerful countenance.’”19

 

 

13. Good and Bad Company

 

عَنْ اَبِيْ مُوْسَي عن النَّبِی صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ قال انما مَثَلُ الْجَلِيسِ الصَّالِحِ وَالْجَلِيسِ السَّوْءِ كَحَامِلِ الْمِسْكِ وَنَافِخِ الْكِيرِ فَحَامِلُ الْمِسْكِ اِمَّا اَنْ يُحْذِيَكَ وَاِمَّا اَنْ تَبْتَاعَ منه وَاِمَّا اَنْ تَجِدَ منه رِيحًا طَيِّبَةً وَنَافِخُ الْكِيرِ اِمَّا اَنْ يُحْرِقَ ثِيَابَكَ وَاِمَّا اَنْ تَجِدَ رِيحًا خَبِيثَةً

 

Abu Musa (rta) reported that the Prophet (sws) said: “The example of companionship of a good person and that of a bad one is that of the owner of musk and of the one who ignites a furnace. As for the owner of musk, he will either offer it you free of charge or you will buy it from him or you will smell its sweet odour. The one who ignites a furnace [on the other hand] will either burn your clothes or you shall have to smell its repulsive odour.”20

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1. Abu al-Husayn Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj al-Qushayri. Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, vol. 4 (Beirut: Dar ihya’ al-turath al-‘arabi, n.d.), 2001, (no. 2589).

2. Ibid., vol. 4, 2003, (no. 2592).

3. Ibid., vol. 4, 2003, (no. 2593).

4. Ibid., vol. 4, 2004, (no. 2594).

5. Ibid., vol. 4, 2011, (no. 2604).

6. Ibid., vol. 4, 2011, (no. 2605).

7. Ibid., vol. 4, 2013, (no. 2607).

8. Ibid., vol. 4, 2014, (no. 2609).

9. Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Isma‘il al-Bukhari, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, 3rd ed., vol. 5 (Beirut: Dar Ibn Kathir, 1987), 2267, (no. 5765).

10. Muslim, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, vol. 4, 2015, (no. 2610).

11. Ibid., vol. 4, 1808, (no. 2318).

12. Ibid., vol. 4, 2021, (no. 1914).

13. Ibid., vol. 4, 2021, (no. 2618).

14. Ibid., vol. 4, 2012, (no. 2606).

15. Ibid., vol. 4, 2024, (no. 2622).

16. Ibid., vol. 4, 2025, (no. 2625).

17. Ibid., vol. 4, 2025, (no. 2625).

18. Al-Bukhari, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, vol. 5, 2240, (no. 5670).

19. Muslim, Al-Jami‘ al-sahih, vol. 4, 2026, (no. 2626).

20. Ibid., vol. 4, 2026, (no. 2628).

   
 
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