27/51. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1982 — Do Not Vilify the Dead
What Has Been Related About Vilification
Hadith About Not Insulting the Dead
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1982
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1982
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ الْحَفَرِيُّ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ عِلاَقَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْمُغِيرَةَ بْنَ شُعْبَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَسُبُّوا الأَمْوَاتَ فَتُؤْذُوا الأَحْيَاءَ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَقَدِ اخْتَلَفَ أَصْحَابُ سُفْيَانَ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ فَرَوَى بَعْضُهُمْ مِثْلَ رِوَايَةِ الْحَفَرِيِّ وَرَوَى بَعْضُهُمْ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ عِلاَقَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَجُلاً يُحَدِّثُ عِنْدَ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ شُعْبَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ .
Al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "Do Not Vilify The Dead (And) By That Harm The Living."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1982In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 88English translation : Vol. 4, Book 1, Hadith 1982
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1982
This Hadith gives a simple but strong teaching about speech after someone has died. The Prophet warned, do not vilify the dead, because doing that harms the living. The focus is on the effect of hurtful words. Even when the person being spoken about is no longer alive, their relatives, friends, or loved ones may still be hurt by insults. This Hadith about not insulting the dead teaches respect, restraint, and care in speech. It does not ask a person to praise wrongdoing. It simply warns against abusive speech that causes pain to others. A Muslim should speak with care and avoid words that bring needless harm.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not insult the dead with abusive speech.
- Hurtful words about the dead can harm the living.
- Speech should be guided by care and restraint.
- Respectful words help protect people from added pain.
