55/14. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 3000a — Be Careful When Praising People
The Prohibition Of Praising if It Involves Exaggeration And There Is The Fear That It May Be A Source Of Temptation (Fitnah) For The One Who Is Praised
Hadith About Praising People Carefully
Sahih Muslim : 3000a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 3000a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ الْحَذَّاءِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ مَدَحَ رَجُلٌ رَجُلاً عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم - قَالَ - فَقَالَ " وَيْحَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ " . مِرَارًا " إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَادِحًا صَاحِبَهُ لاَ مَحَالَةَ فَلْيَقُلْ أَحْسِبُ فُلاَنًا وَاللَّهُ حَسِيبُهُ وَلاَ أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللَّهِ أَحَدًا أَحْسِبُهُ إِنْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ ذَاكَ كَذَا وَكَذَا " .
Abd al-Rahman b. Abu Bakra reported on the authority of his father that a person praised another person in the presence of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), whereupon he said: Woe be to thee, you have broken the neck of your friend, you have broken the neck of your friend-he said this twice. If one of you has to praise his friend at all, he should say: I think (him to be) so and Allah knows it well and I do not know the secret of the heart and Allah knows the destined end, and I cannot testify his purity against Allah but (he appears) to be so and so.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 3000aIn-book reference : Book 55, Hadith 83USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 42, Hadith 7139
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 3000a
This Hadith warns against excessive praise. A person praised another person in the presence of Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that he had broken the neck of his friend. Then he taught a safer way to speak. If someone has to praise his friend, he should say that he thinks the person is such and such, while Allah knows him best. He should not claim purity for anyone before Allah. This hadith about praising people is a lesson in humble speech. It allows careful praise when needed, but it stops a person from speaking as if he knows the hidden heart.
What we learn from this hadith
- Avoid excessive praise of people.
- If praise is needed, use careful and humble wording.
- Allah knows the reality of a person's heart.
- Do not claim someone's purity against Allah's knowledge.
