Speech Etiquette
Total Hadiths 7
Islamic Speech Etiquette: Mind Your Words and Terminology
In these authentic prophetic narrations, Islam highlights the profound importance of choosing our everyday vocabulary carefully. The Prophet Muhammad teaches us specific speech etiquette by prohibiting the use of the word 'karm'—which linguistically carries meanings of nobility, ultimate goodness, and deep honor—when referring to grapes or wine. According to Islamic scholars, people during the pre-Islamic era commonly associated this description of luxury and prestige with alcohol and grapevines. The Prophet corrected this habit, clarifying that true honor, high status, and respect belong exclusively to the heart of a believer and a righteous Muslim person. By adjusting how we describe mundane things, these traditions remind us that true spiritual nobility lies within faith and character rather than material items or worldly drinks.
حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ الشَّاعِرِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنِ ابْنِ، سِيرِينَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَسُبُّ أَحَدُكُمُ الدَّهْرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الدَّهْرُ وَلاَ يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ لِلْعِنَبِ الْكَرْمَ . فَإِنَّ الْكَرْمَ الرَّجُلُ الْمُسْلِمُ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: None of you should abuse Time for it is Allah Who is the Time, and none of you should call 'Inab (grape) as al-karm, for karm is a Muslim person.
[1] Karm is from Karuma ; to be noble, generous. They used to call grapes Karm because when a man became intoxicated from wine his inhibitions would weaken, and he would be more generous.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2247aIn-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 6USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 27, Hadith 5585
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَقُولُوا كَرْمٌ . فَإِنَّ الْكَرْمَ قَلْبُ الْمُؤْمِنِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Do not use the word karm (for wine) for worthy of respect is the heart of a believer.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2247bIn-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 27, Hadith 5586
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تُسَمُّوا الْعِنَبَ الْكَرْمَ فَإِنَّ الْكَرْمَ الرَّجُلُ الْمُسْلِمُ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Do not name grape as karm, for worthy of respect is a Muslim.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2247cIn-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 8USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 27, Hadith 5587
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَرْقَاءُ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمُ الْكَرْمُ . فَإِنَّمَا الْكَرْمُ قَلْبُ الْمُؤْمِنِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: None of you should use the word al-harin (for grape) for the heart of a believer is karm (worthy of respect).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2247dIn-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 9USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 27, Hadith 5588
وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، قَالَ هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ لِلْعِنَبِ الْكَرْمَ . إِنَّمَا الْكَرْمُ الرَّجُلُ الْمُسْلِمُ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) various ahadith, one of which is this that he said: None of you should use the word al-karm for 'Inab, for karm (worthy of respect) is a Muslim person.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2247eIn-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 10USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 27, Hadith 5589
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ خَشْرَمٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ يُونُسَ - عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ سِمَاكِ، بْنِ حَرْبٍ عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَائِلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَقُولُوا الْكَرْمُ . وَلَكِنْ قُولُوا الْحَبَلَةُ " . يَعْنِي الْعِنَبَ .
'Alqamah bin Wa'il Narrated from:
Alqama b. Wa'il reported, from his father, Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) having said: Do not say al-karm (for the word vine) but say al-habala (that is grape).
[1] Meaning, ‘Vine’.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2248aIn-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 11USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 27, Hadith 5590
وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سِمَاكٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنَ وَائِلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَقُولُوا الْكَرْمُ . وَلَكِنْ قُولُوا الْعِنَبُ وَالْحَبَلَةُ " .
'Alqamah bin Wa'il Narrated from:
This hadith has been reported by Alqama b. Wa'il on the authority of his father with a different chain of transmitters and with a slight variation of wording.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2248bIn-book reference : Book 40, Hadith 12USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 27, Hadith 5590
