55/14. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 3000b — Do Not Overpraise a Brother
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 Overpraising a Brother
Sahih Muslim : 3000b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 3000b
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَبَّادِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ بْنِ أَبِي رَوَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، قَالَ شُعْبَةُ حَدَّثَنَا عَنْ خَالِدٍ الْحَذَّاءِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ، الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ ذُكِرَ عِنْدَهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَفْضَلُ مِنْهُ فِي كَذَا وَكَذَا . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَيْحَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ " . مِرَارًا يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنْ كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَادِحًا أَخَاهُ لاَ مَحَالَةَ فَلْيَقُلْ أَحْسِبُ فُلاَنًا إِنْ كَانَ يُرَى أَنَّهُ كَذَلِكَ وَلاَ أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللَّهِ أَحَدًا " .
Abd al-Rahman b. Abu Bakra reported on the authority of his father that a person was mentioned in the presence of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), and a person said: Allah's Messenger, no person is more excellent than he after Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). Thereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: Woe be to thee, you have broken the neck of your friend, and he said this twice. Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: If anyone has to praise his brother at all, he should say: I think him to be so and so, and even on this he should say: I do not consider anyone purer than Allah (considers).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 3000bIn-book reference : Book 55, Hadith 84USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 42, Hadith 7140
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 3000b
This Hadith shows how serious careless praise can be. A man was mentioned in front of Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and someone gave him very strong praise. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that he had broken the neck of his friend, repeating the warning. Then he taught that if someone must praise his brother, he should say, I think him to be so and so, and should not consider anyone purer than Allah considers. The main lesson is not to speak with certainty about a person's inner rank. This hadith about overpraising teaches humility, careful speech, and leaving final judgment to Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Strong praise can harm the person being praised.
- Praise should be worded with humility and caution.
- A person should not claim to know another person's true purity.
- Final knowledge of people belongs to Allah.
