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

O Allah, I am only human. Any Muslim man whom I insulted, cursed, or flogged, make it a means of purification and mercy for him

Chapter: Whomever Is Cursed, Reviled Or Prayed Against By The Prophet (SAW) When He Does Not Deserve That, It Will Be Purification, Reward And Mercy For Him

Authentic hadith of Sahih Muslim Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2601a

Narrator:Abu Hurayrah

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ فَأَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ سَبَبْتُهُ أَوْ لَعَنْتُهُ أَوْ جَلَدْتُهُ فَاجْعَلْهَا لَهُ زَكَاةً وَرَحْمَةً ‏"

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

"O Allah, I am only human. Any Muslim man whom I insulted, cursed, or flogged, make it a means of purification and mercy for him."

Reported by Muslim (No. 2601a, 2816a, 2816c, 2816d, 2816e, 2816f, 2816g), Al-Bukhari (No. 6463), Ibn Majah (No. 4201) and Ahmad (No. 6905, 7167, 7271, 7902, 7980, 8173, 8641, 8703).

Explanation

The Prophet (ﷺ) supplicated, saying: O Allah, I am only human. I become angry as humans do. So, any believer whom I have harmed, insulted, reviled, cursed, prayed to be expelled from Your mercy, or flogged and struck, make that a source of purification, a means of nearness to You, an expiation, and a mercy by which You show him mercy.

Lessons

The noble character of the Prophet (ﷺ).
Ibn Hajar said: This Hadīth indicates the perfection of his compassion (ﷺ) for his Ummah, his beautiful character, and his noble nature, as he intended to compensate for what occurred from him with reparation and honor.
An-Nawawi said: If it is asked: How could he (the Prophet) supplicate against someone who does not deserve it, or insult him, or curse him, and so forth? The answer is what the scholars have provided, summarized in two points: 1. The intended meaning is that the person is not deserving of that in the sight of Allah Almighty and in the unseen reality of the matter. However, based on outward appearances, he was deserving of it. An indication according to Shariah made it apparent to the Prophet (ﷺ) that the person deserved that, while in the unseen reality, he was not truly deserving. The Prophet (ﷺ) was commanded to judge by outward appearances, and hidden aspects are entrusted to Allah. 2. The insults, curses, and the like that occurred were not intended for their literal meaning. Rather, they were phrases that had become customary in Arabic speech to connect sentences without specific intent, such as saying: May your right hand be covered with dust, ‘Aqra Halqa (expressions of exasperation), and in this Hadīth: May you not grow old!" And in the Hadīth of Mu‘āwiyah: May Allah not fill your stomach, and similar phrases. They did not intend the literal meaning of the supplication in any of these instances. The Prophet (ﷺ) feared that any of these might coincidentally be answered (by Allah), so he asked his Lord, the Majestic and Exalted, and beseeched Him to make that a mercy, an expiation, a means of drawing near (to Allah), a purification, and a reward for the person. But this only occurred from him rarely and on exceptional occasions, and the Prophet (ﷺ) was neither indecent nor one who intentionally used foul language, nor was he someone who cursed others or sought revenge for himself.

Explanation in Arabic

دعا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: اللهم إنما أنا بشر، أغضب كما يغضب البشر، فأيُّ مؤمن آذيته أو سببته وشتمته، أو لعنته ودعوت عليه بالطرد من رحمتك، أو جلدته وضربته، فاجعل ذلك له زكاة وقربة وتطهيرًا وكفارة ورحمة ترحمه بها.

عظيم خلق النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم.
قال ابن حجر: في الحديث كمال شفقته صلى الله عليه وسلم على أمته وجميل خلقه وكرم ذاته حيث قصد مقابلة ما وقع منه بالجبر والتكريم.
قال النووي: فإن قيل: كيف يدعو على من ليس هو بأهل للدعاء عليه أو يسبه أو يلعنه ونحو ذلك؟ فالجواب ما أجاب به العلماء، ومختصره وجهان: أحدهما: أن المراد ليس بأهل لذلك عند الله تعالى، وفي باطن الأمر، ولكنه في الظاهر مستوجب له، فيظهر له صلى الله عليه وسلم استحقاقه لذلك بأمارة شرعية، ويكون في باطن الأمر ليس أهلًا لذلك، وهو صلى الله عليه وسلم مأمور بالحكم بالظاهر، والله يتولى السرائر. والثاني: أن ما وقع من سبه ودعائه ونحوه ليس بمقصود، بل هو مما جرت به عادة العرب في وصل كلامها بلا نية، كقوله: تَرِبَت يمينك، وعَقْرَى حَلْقَى، وفي هذا الحديث: (لا كبرت سنك)، وفي حديث معاوية: لا أشبع الله بطنك، ونحو ذلك، لا يقصدون بشيء من ذلك حقيقة الدعاء، فخاف صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يصادف شيء من ذلك إجابة، فسأل ربه سبحانه وتعالى ورغب إليه في أن يجعل ذلك رحمة وكفارة، وقربة وطهورًا وأجرًا، وإنما كان يقع هذا منه في النادر والشاذ من الأزمان، ولم يكن صلى الله عليه وسلم فاحشًا ولا متفحِّشًا ولا لعانًا ولا منتقمًا لنفسه.

Scholars’ grades

Scholar	Grade	Applies to	Work
Muslimd. 261 AH	Authenticصحيح	The hadith	صحيح مسلم No. 2601

Grades of other versions (1)

AuthenticShu'ayb al-Arna'ut صحيح — تخريج المسند لشعيب (15295)

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 6463

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The deeds of anyone of you will not save you (from the (Hell) Fire)." They said, "Even you (will not be saved by your deeds), O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" He said, "No, even I (will not be saved) unless and until Allah bestows His Mercy on me. Therefore, do good deeds…

لَنْ يُنَجِّيَ أَحَدًا مِنْكُمْ عَمَلُهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا وَلاَ أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلاَ أَنَا، إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِي اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ، سَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا، وَاغْدُوا وَرُوحُوا، وَشَىْءٌ مِنَ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2816a

None amongst you would attain salvation purely because of his deeds. A person said: Allah's Messenger, even you? Thereupon he said: Yes, not even I except that Allah wraps me in Mercy, but you should act with moderation. This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Bukair b. al-Ashajj with…

لَنْ يُنْجِيَ أَحَدًا مِنْكُمْ عَمَلُهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ رَجُلٌ وَلاَ إِيَّاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلاَ إِيَّاىَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِيَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ وَلَكِنْ سَدِّدُوا ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2816c

There is none whose deeds alone would entitle him to get into Paradise. It was said to him: And, Allah's Messenger, not even you? Thereupon he said: Not even I, but that my Lord wraps me in Mercy.

مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يُدْخِلُهُ عَمَلُهُ الْجَنَّةَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقِيلَ وَلاَ أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلاَ أَنَا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِي رَبِّي بِرَحْمَةٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2816d

There is none amongst you whose deeds alone would attain salvation for him. They (the Companions) said: Allah's Messenger, not even you? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Not even I, but that Allah wraps me in Mercy and He grants me pardon. Ibn 'Aun pointed towards his head with his hand saying: Not even…

لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ يُنْجِيهِ عَمَلُهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا وَلاَ أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلاَ أَنَا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِيَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ بِمَغْفِرَةٍ وَرَحْمَةٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَوْنٍ بِيَدِهِ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2816e

There is none whose deeds alone can'secure salvation for him. They said: Allah's Messenger, not even you? Thereupon he said: Not even I, but that, the Mercy of Allah should take hold of me.

لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ يُنْجِيهِ عَمَلُهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا وَلاَ أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلاَ أَنَا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَدَارَكَنِيَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2816f

None amongst you can get. into Paradise by virtue of his deeds alone. They said: Allah's Messenger, not even you? Thereupon he said: Not even I, but that Allah should wrap me in His Grace and Mercy.

لَنْ يُدْخِلَ أَحَدًا مِنْكُمْ عَمَلُهُ الْجَنَّةَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا وَلاَ أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلاَ أَنَا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِيَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ بِفَضْلٍ وَرَحْمَةٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

See all 36 versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 2816g

Pursue the right course and be as close to it as possible, and keep in mind that none of you will be saved by his deeds." They said: O Messenger of Allah, not even you? He said: "Not even me unless Allah encompasses me with mercy and favor from Him

"Pursue the right course and be as close to it as possible, and keep in mind that none of you will be saved by his deeds." They said: O Messenger of Allah, not even you? He said: "Not even me unless Allah encompasses me with mercy and favor from Him."

قَارِبُوا وَسَدِّدُوا وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَنْ يَنْجُوَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ بِعَمَلِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَلاَ أَنْتَ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلاَ أَنَا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِنْهُ وَفَضْلٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah Explained

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Ibn Majah 4201

“Be moderate and adhere to moderation, for there is no one among you who will be saved by his deeds.” They said: “Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Not even me. Unless Allah encompasses me with mercy and grace from Him.”

"‏ قَارِبُوا وَسَدِّدُوا فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ بِمُنْجِيهِ عَمَلُهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا وَلاَ أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلاَ أَنَا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَغَمَّدَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِنْهُ وَفَضْلٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Musnad Ahmad 6905