64/44. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4267 — Careful Words in Grief
The expedition of Mu`tah to the land of Syria
Hadith About Praise in Mourning: Abdullah bin Rawaha and His Sister
Sahih Bukhari : 4267
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4267
حَدَّثَنِي عِمْرَانُ بْنُ مَيْسَرَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ أُغْمِيَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَوَاحَةَ، فَجَعَلَتْ أُخْتُهُ عَمْرَةُ تَبْكِي وَاجَبَلاَهْ وَاكَذَا وَاكَذَا. تُعَدِّدُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ حِينَ أَفَاقَ مَا قُلْتِ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ قِيلَ لِي آنْتَ كَذَلِكَ.
An-Nu'man bin Bashir Narrated from:
`Abdullah bin Rawaha fell down unconscious and his sister `Amra started crying and was saying loudly, "O Jabala! Oh so-and-so! Oh so-and-so! and went on calling him by his (good) qualities one by one). When he came to his senses, he said (to his sister), "When-ever you said something, I was asked, 'Are you really so (i.e. as she says)?"
[1] 'Jabal' literally means 'mountain'. 'Amra means 'Oh my supporter!'Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4267In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 301USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 566
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4267
This hadith about praise in mourning shows a serious moment in the life of Abdullah bin Rawaha. He became unconscious, and his sister Amra began crying loudly. She called him by names and qualities one after another, saying things like O Jabala and other phrases. When Abdullah regained consciousness, he told her that whenever she said something, he was asked whether he was really like that. The report does not give a long ruling, but it makes the reader careful about words spoken during grief. Praise may feel natural when someone is loved, but this narration shows that such claims were not treated lightly. The core lesson is to be truthful and measured, even when emotions are strong.
What we learn from this hadith
- Words spoken in grief should be careful and measured.
- Loud praise of a person is shown as a serious matter in this report.
- The narration reminds us not to say more than we can answer for.
