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 Muslim, which contains 7,459 hadiths across 57 books. It is hadith number 6440 in the Book of The Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#6439

#6440

Sahih Muslim

#6441

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Sahih Muslim #6440

Q: What is Sahih Muslim 6440 about?

This hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book of The Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship), narrated by 'A'isha, the wife of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:, states: "Kindness is not to be found in anything but that it adds to its beauty and it is not withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective."

The Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship

Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الْمِقْدَامِ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ شُرَيْحِ بْنِ هَانِئٍ - عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ الرِّفْقَ لاَ يَكُونُ فِي شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ زَانَهُ وَلاَ يُنْزَعُ مِنْ شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ شَانَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Kindness is not to be found in anything but that it adds to its beauty and it is not withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective.

Narrated by 'A'isha, the wife of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:

Context

In this hadith narrated by 'A'isha, the wife of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), the Prophet emphasizes the importance of kindness, stating that it enhances the beauty of anything it is associated with. Conversely, the absence of kindness detracts from the value of whatever it is removed from. This highlights the significance of compassion in our interactions and relationships.

Modern Application

In today's world, practicing kindness can transform our relationships, especially with the elderly. Simple acts of kindness, such as offering assistance or showing patience, can greatly enhance their quality of life and foster a sense of community.