What is Sunan Abu Dawud 4902 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab)), narrated by Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:, states: "The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Make a mention of the virtues of your dead, and refrain from (mentioning) their evils."

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Hasan. Hasan hadiths are considered good and acceptable 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 4902 in the Book of General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab).

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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#4901

#4902

Sunan Abu Dawud

#4903

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Sunan Abu Dawud #4902

General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab)

Hasan

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

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ أَنَسٍ الْمَكِّيِّ، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ اذْكُرُوا مَحَاسِنَ مَوْتَاكُمْ وَكُفُّوا عَنْ مَسَاوِيهِمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Make a mention of the virtues of your dead, and refrain from (mentioning) their evils.

Narrated by Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:

Context

This hadith conveys the importance of honoring the memory of deceased individuals by focusing on their positive attributes rather than their shortcomings. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) encourages a culture of respect and kindness in how we speak about those who have passed away, promoting a sense of community and compassion.

Modern Application

In contemporary society, this principle can be observed during memorial services or when discussing loved ones who have died. By sharing positive stories and memories, we foster a supportive environment that honors their legacy and encourages healing among the bereaved.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Community and Treatment of the Dead because it emphasizes the importance of remembering the virtues of the deceased while refraining from discussing their faults.

Community Treatment of the Dead

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ

An-Nisaa (The Women)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

۞ لَّا يُحِبُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْجَهْرَ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا

Allah does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allah Hearing and Knowing.

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ

At-Tawba (The Repentance)

1 ayah

وَلَا تُصَلِّ عَلَىٰٓ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًۭا وَلَا تَقُمْ عَلَىٰ قَبْرِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ فَٰسِقُونَ

And do not pray [the funeral prayer, O Muhammad], over any of them who has died - ever - or stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient.

سُورَةُ الحُجُرَاتِ

Al-Hujuraat (The Inner Apartments)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَرْفَعُوٓا۟ أَصْوَٰتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ ٱلنَّبِىِّ وَلَا تَجْهَرُوا۟ لَهُۥ بِٱلْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ أَن تَحْبَطَ أَعْمَٰلُكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ

O you who have believed, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet or be loud to him in speech like the loudness of some of you to others, lest your deeds become worthless while you perceive not.

سُورَةُ المُجَادلَةِ

Al-Mujaadila (The Pleading Woman)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا تَنَٰجَيْتُمْ فَلَا تَتَنَٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَتَنَٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ

O you who have believed, when you converse privately, do not converse about sin and aggression and disobedience to the Messenger but converse about righteousness and piety. And fear Allah, to whom you will be gathered.

سُورَةُ الوَاقِعَةِ

Al-Waaqia (The Inevitable)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ

And if the deceased was of those brought near to Allah,

Common Words

78 total66 unique8 repeated

لا3x

ٱلله3x

من3x

ولا3x

على2x

يأيها2x

ٱلذين2x

ءامنوا2x

يحب1x

ٱلجهر1x

بٱلسوء1x

ٱلقول1x

إلا1x

ظلم1x

وكان1x

سميعا1x

عليما1x

تصل1x

أحد1x

منهم1x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #4902 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab). It is graded Hasan and narrated by Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections

Sunan Abu Dawud #4902

Context

Modern Application

Topics

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Common Words

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

About This Hadith