43/13. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2310a — Smiling Patience
His Good Manners
Smiling Patience Hadith with Anas
Sahih Muslim : 2310a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2310a
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 2310a
This smiling patience hadith gives a warm example of the Prophet’s behavior with Anas. Anas said the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم had the best disposition among people. One day, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sent him on an errand. Anas said outwardly that he would not go, though inside he intended to do what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had commanded. He went out and passed by children playing in the street. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came from behind, held him by the back of his neck, and when Anas looked at him, he was smiling. He gently asked, Unais, did you go where I commanded you to go? Anas replied that he was going. The report ends with Anas saying he served him for nine years without harsh questioning.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected Anas with a smile in this report.
- Anas intended to obey even after saying he would not go.
- The narration shows patience when dealing with a young servant.
- Long service gave Anas a clear view of the Prophet’s gentle behavior.
