45/22. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2591a — Kind Speech and Avoiding Indecency
Being Kind To Protect Oneself From Another's Vile Behavior
Hadith About Kind Speech and Fear of Indecency
Sahih Muslim : 2591a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2591a
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ وَابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ كُلُّهُمْ عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِزُهَيْرٍ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ - عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، سَمِعَ عُرْوَةَ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ، يَقُولُ حَدَّثَتْنِي عَائِشَةُ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " ائْذَنُوا لَهُ فَلَبِئْسَ ابْنُ الْعَشِيرَةِ أَوْ بِئْسَ رَجُلُ الْعَشِيرَةِ " . فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ أَلاَنَ لَهُ الْقَوْلَ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قُلْتَ لَهُ الَّذِي قُلْتَ ثُمَّ أَلَنْتَ لَهُ الْقَوْلَ قَالَ " يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ شَرَّ النَّاسِ مَنْزِلَةً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ وَدَعَهُ أَوْ تَرَكَهُ النَّاسُ اتِّقَاءَ فُحْشِهِ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
A person sought permission from Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) to see him. He said: Grant him permission. (and also added: ) He is a bad son of his tribe or he is a bad person of his tribe. When he came in he used kind words for him. 'A'isha reported that she said: Allah's Messenger, you said about him what you had to say and then you treated him with kindness. He said: A'isha, verily in the eye of Allah, worst amongst the person in rank on the Day of Resurrection is one whom the people abandon or desert out of the fear of indecency.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2591aIn-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 94USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 32, Hadith 6268
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2591a
This Hadith shows a careful balance between knowing someone’s bad conduct and still speaking with controlled manners. A man sought permission to enter upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم described him in negative terms before he entered, yet when the man came in, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used kind words with him. A'isha asked about this, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained that among the worst in rank on the Day of Resurrection is a person whom people leave or avoid because they fear his indecency. The lesson is not to copy bad manners in the name of honesty. It teaches wise speech, controlled behavior, and the danger of becoming someone others avoid because of foul conduct.
What we learn from this hadith
- Kind speech can be used even with a person known for bad behavior.
- People may avoid a person because they fear his indecency.
- The Hadith warns against foul conduct that pushes people away.
- Good manners do not require pretending that bad behavior is good.
