Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sahih al-Bukhari, which contains 7,277 hadiths across 97 books. It is hadith number 5929 in the Book of Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab).

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#5928

#5929

Sahih al-Bukhari

#5930

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Sahih al-Bukhari #5929

Q: What is Sahih al-Bukhari 5929 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab)), narrated by Narrated Abu Bakra:, states: "A man praised another man in front of the Prophet. The Prophet (ﷺ) said thrice, "Wailaka (Woe on you) ! You have cut the neck of your brother!" The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "If it is indispensable for anyo…"

Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab)

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ أَثْنَى رَجُلٌ عَلَى رَجُلٍ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ وَيْلَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ أَخِيكَ ـ ثَلاَثًا ـ مَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَادِحًا لاَ مَحَالَةَ فَلْيَقُلْ أَحْسِبُ فُلاَنًا ـ وَاللَّهُ حَسِيبُهُ ـ وَلاَ أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللَّهِ أَحَدًا‏.‏ إِنْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ ‏"‏‏.‏

A man praised another man in front of the Prophet. The Prophet (ﷺ) said thrice, "Wailaka (Woe on you) ! You have cut the neck of your brother!" The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "If it is indispensable for anyone of you to praise a person, then he should say, "I think that such-and-such person (is so-and-so), and Allah is the one who will take his accounts (as he knows his reality) and none can sanctify anybody before Allah (and that only if he knows well about that person.)".

Narrated by Narrated Abu Bakra:

Context

In this hadith, Abu Bakra recounts an incident where a man praised another in front of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The Prophet cautioned against excessive praise, warning that it could harm the one being praised. He advised that if one must praise another, they should do so modestly, acknowledging that only Allah knows the true nature of individuals.

Modern Application

In today's society, it's important to practice humility in our speech. When complimenting others, we can focus on their positive traits without exaggeration, fostering a culture of sincerity and respect. This approach encourages genuine relationships and prevents the potential pitfalls of flattery.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Ethics of Speech and Respectful Communication because it emphasizes the importance of being cautious and sincere in our praises of others.

Ethics of Speech Respectful Communication