Jubayr ibn Nufayr reported: Abu Darda, may Allah be pleased with him, used to say about people, “We know you better than a veterinarian knows his animals. We surely know the best of you from the worst of you. As for the best of you, goodness is expected from them and you feel safe from their evil. As for the worst of you, goodness is not expected from them, none are safe from their evil, and they do not emancipate slaves.”
Source: al-Adab al-Mufrad lil-Bukhārī 159
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani
عَنْ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ لِلنَّاسِ نَحْنُ أَعْرَفُ بِكُمْ مِنَ الْبَيَاطِرَةِ بِالدَّوَابِّ قَدْ عَرَفْنَا خِيَارَكُمْ مِنْ شِرَارِكُمْ أَمَّا خِيَارُكُمُ الَّذِي يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ وَيُؤْمَنُ شَرُّهُ وَأَمَّا شِرَارُكُمْ فَالَّذِي لَا يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ وَلَا يُؤْمَنُ شَرُّهُ وَلَا يُعْتَقُ مُحَرَّرُهُ
159 الأدب المفرد للبخاري باب سوء الملكة
119 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح الإسناد موقوفا
