43/13. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2309e — Gentle Correction with Anas
His Good Manners
Gentle Correction Hadith with Anas
Sahih Muslim : 2309e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2309e
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو مَعْنٍ الرَّقَاشِيُّ، زَيْدُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ أَخْبَرَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمَّارٍ - قَالَ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ قَالَ أَنَسٌ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ أَحْسَنِ النَّاسِ خُلُقًا فَأَرْسَلَنِي يَوْمًا لِحَاجَةٍ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَذْهَبُ . وَفِي نَفْسِي أَنْ أَذْهَبَ لِمَا أَمَرَنِي بِهِ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَخَرَجْتُ حَتَّى أَمُرَّ عَلَى صِبْيَانٍ وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ فِي السُّوقِ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ قَبَضَ بِقَفَاىَ مِنْ وَرَائِي - قَالَ - فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَهُوَ يَضْحَكُ فَقَالَ " يَا أُنَيْسُ أَذَهَبْتَ حَيْثُ أَمَرْتُكَ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ أَنَا أَذْهَبُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ أَنَسٌ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ خَدَمْتُهُ تِسْعَ سِنِينَ مَا عَلِمْتُهُ قَالَ لِشَىْءٍ صَنَعْتُهُ لِمَ فَعَلْتَ كَذَا وَكَذَا أَوْ لِشَىْءٍ تَرَكْتُهُ هَلاَّ فَعَلْتَ كَذَا وَكَذَا .
Anas reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had the best disposition amongst people. He sent me on an errand one day, and I said: By Allah, I would not go. I had, however, this idea in my mind that I would do as Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) had commanded me to do. I went out until I happened to come across children who had been playing in the street. In the meanwhile, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came there and he caught me by the back of my neck from behind me. As I looked towards him I found him smiling and he said: Unais, did you go where I commanded you to go? I said: Allah's Messenger, yes, I am going. Anas further said: I served him for nine years but I know not that he ever said to me about a thing which I had done why I did that, or about a thing I had left as to why I had not done that.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2310a, 2309eIn-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 74USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 30, Hadith 5724
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2309e
This gentle correction hadith repeats the report of Anas about an errand and the Prophet’s kind manner. Anas said that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم had the best disposition among people. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sent him on an errand, and Anas said he would not go, though he meant inside that he would obey. He went out and passed by children playing in the market. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came behind him, held him by the back of his neck, and Anas saw him smiling. He asked if Anas had gone where he was commanded, and Anas replied that he was going. The report closes by showing the same steady kindness Anas experienced through years of service.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used a gentle and smiling approach in this moment.
- Anas’s account shows the Prophet’s good disposition in daily life.
- The narration shows correction without harsh speech.
- Anas linked this event with years of patient treatment.
