36/11. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2316 — Leaving Useless Speech
Among The Excellence Of A Person's Islam Is His Leaving What Does Not Concern Him
Hadith About Speaking Only What Concerns You
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2316
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2316
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ الْبَغْدَادِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَاَ عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ تُوُفِّيَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ يَعْنِي رَجُلٌ أَبْشِرْ بِالْجَنَّةِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَوَلاَ تَدْرِي فَلَعَلَّهُ تَكَلَّمَ فِيمَا لاَ يَعْنِيهِ أَوْ بَخِلَ بِمَا لاَ يَنْقُصُهُ " . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ .
Anas bin Malik Narrated from:
A man among his companions was dying so he said- meaning a man said to him: "Glad Tidings Of Paradise." To Which The Messenger Of Allah (S.A.W) Said: "You Do Not Know. Perhaps He Spoke Of What Did Not Concern Him Or He Was Greedy With That Which Would Not Decrease Him."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2316In-book reference : Book 36, Hadith 13English translation : Vol. 4, Book 10, Hadith 2316
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2316
This Hadith teaches caution in speech and judgment. A man among the companions was dying, and someone gave him glad tidings of Paradise. The Messenger of Allah replied, "You do not know." He then mentioned that perhaps the man had spoken about what did not concern him or was greedy with something that would not decrease him. This hadith about speaking what concerns you is a careful reminder. It does not name that person as doomed, and it does not let us make harsh claims. Instead, it warns us not to speak with certainty about matters we do not know and not to ignore small-looking habits like useless speech or withholding what would not harm us.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not speak with certainty about a person's final rank without knowledge.
- Speaking about what does not concern a person is treated as a serious issue.
- Being greedy with something that would not decrease us is warned against.
- The Prophet's reply teaches caution, not harsh judgment.
