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 Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 4806 in the Book of General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab).

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

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Sunan Abu Dawud

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Sunan Abu Dawud #4806

Q: What is Sunan Abu Dawud 4806 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab)), narrated by Hammam said :, states: "A man came and praised ‘Uthman in his face, al-Miqdad b. Al-Aswad took dust and threw it on his face, saying : The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) said : When you see those who are given to praising people, thro…"

General Behavior (Kitab 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 أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ هَمَّامٍ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ فَأَثْنَى عَلَى عُثْمَانَ فِي وَجْهِهِ فَأَخَذَ الْمِقْدَادُ بْنُ الأَسْوَدِ تُرَابًا فَحَثَا فِي وَجْهِهِ وَقَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الْمَدَّاحِينَ فَاحْثُوا فِي وُجُوهِهِمُ التُّرَابَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

A man came and praised ‘Uthman in his face, al-Miqdad b. Al-Aswad took dust and threw it on his face, saying : The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) said : When you see those who are given to praising people, throw dust in their faces.

Narrated by Hammam said :

Context

This narration illustrates the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) disapproval of excessive praise, advising against flattery. The act of throwing dust in the face of someone who praises excessively serves as a metaphor for humility and the avoidance of vanity.

Modern Application

In contemporary life, this principle encourages individuals to practice humility and to be cautious of flattery in relationships. It promotes a culture of sincerity and authenticity in interactions.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Conduct because it provides guidance on maintaining humility and avoiding the pitfalls of excessive praise.

Prophetic Conduct