Imam al-Shafi’i, may Allah be pleased with him, said in his poetry, “If a fool speaks to you, do not answer him, for the best answer is silence. If you speak to him, you have delighted him. If you leave him, he nearly dies in anguish.” Source: Dīwān al-Imām al-Shāfi’ī 38 Al-Ajurri said about the …
Shafi’i on Debate: Best answer to a fool is silence Read More »
Sa’id ibn Abdul Aziz reported: Umar ibn Abdul Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, wrote to the people of Medina, “Whoever worships without knowledge will cause more harm than good. Whoever considers his words part of his deeds will speak little unless it concerns him. Whoever makes the purpose of his religion to indulge …
Umar II on Knowledge: Action without knowledge more harmful than good Read More »
Ibn Abi Hatim reported: Al-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “I never debated anyone and loved for him to be wrong. There is no knowledge in my heart but that I wish everyone could have it and attribute none of it to me.” Source: Ādāb al-Shāfi’ī wa Manāqibuh 78 عن ابن أبي حاتم …
Shafi’i on Knowledge: I desire no praise or credit for teaching Read More »
Al-Bayhaqi reported: Al-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “I never debated anyone I knew to be founded upon innovation.” Al-Bayhaqi said, “This is because the one founded upon innovation rarely turns away from his innovation through debate. Indeed, he would only debate whomever it was hoped would turn to the truth if it …
Shafi’i on Debate: Only debate those who might accept truth Read More »
Al-Rabia’ ibn Sulayman reported: Al-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Arguing about the religion hardens the heart and produces resentment.” And Al-Shafi’i said, “I never debated anyone but with sincere good will.” Source: Siyar A’lām al-Nubalā’ 10/28 عن الرَّبِيع بْن سُلَيْمَان قال الشَّافِعي رحمه الله الْمِرَاءُ فِي الدِّينِ يُقَسِّي الْقَلْبَ وَيُورِثُ الضَّغَائِنَ وقال …
Shafi’i on Debates: Arguing in religion breeds hate, bad will Read More »
Yunus al-Sadafi reported: I have not seen anyone wiser than Imam al-Shafi’i, may Allah be pleased with him. I argued with him one day over an issue and then we departed. He later met me and took my hand, then he said, “O Abu Musa, can we not continue to be brothers even if we …
Shafi’i on Brotherhood: Be brothers, even if you disagree on issues Read More »
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If my companions are mentioned, be restrained. If the stars are mentioned, be restrained. If the divine decree is mentioned, be restrained.” Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr lil-Ṭabarānī 10448 Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ قَالَ …
Hadith on Silence: Be restrained about Companions, Qadr, and stars Read More »
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever abandons lies in support of falsehood, a house will be built for him in the surroundings of Paradise. Whoever abandons arguments even though he is right, a house will be built for him in its middle. Whoever makes his …
Hadith on Adab: House in paradise for those with good character Read More »
Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do not argue with your brother, do not excessively joke with him, and do not make a promise for him only to break it.” Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1995 Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Tirmidhi عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ …
Hadith on Brotherhood: Do not argue or break your promises Read More »
Ibn Rajab reported: Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Verily, I will pass over a verse from the Book of Allah and I would love for all of the people to know it as I know it.” Source: Jāmi’ al-‘Ulūm wal-Ḥikam 13 عن ابن رجب قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ رضي الله عنه إِنِّي لَأَمُرُّ …
Ibn Abbas on Knowledge: I wish everyone knows as I know Read More »
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Job the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, remained in his trial for eighteen years.He was rejected by relatives and strangers alike, except for two men among his closest brothers. They would visit him in the morning …
Hadith on Ayyub: Prophet Job hates arguments about Allah Read More »
Anas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Leave my companions alone. By the One in whose hand is my soul, if one of you were to spend as much gold as the mountain of Uhud in charity, you would still not reach their level of good deeds.” Source: Musnad Aḥmad 13812 …
Hadith on Sahaba: Do not speak badly of the Prophet’s companions Read More »
Abu Huraira reported: A man reviled Abu Bakr while the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was sitting down. That made the Prophet impressed by Abu Bakr and he smiled. Then, Abu Bakr reviled the man with the same words as him and the Prophet became angry and he stood to leave. Abu Bakr went to …
Hadith on Satan: Devil sits with those who curse each other Read More »
Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, heard the loud voices to two men arguing at the door. One of them was asking the other to lessen his debt and show leniency. The man said, “By Allah, I will not do so!” The Prophet came out and he said, “Where …
Hadith on Leniency: Who swore by Allah not to do good? Read More »
Ziyad ibn Hudayr reported: Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said to me, “Do you know what will demolish Islam?” I said no. Umar said, “Islam will be demolished by the faults of scholars, the arguments of hypocrites over the Book, and the judgment of misguided leaders.” Source: Sunan al-Dārimī 214 Grade: …
Umar on Islam: Muslims ruined by faulty scholars, leaders, hypocrites Read More »
‘Ubadah ibn al-Samit reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came out to inform people about the Night of Decree in Ramadan, but two Muslim men were insulting each other. The Prophet said, “Verily, I have come out to tell you about the Night of Decree, but two men were insulting each …
Hadith on Ramadan: Knowledge of Laylat al-Qadr removed by insults Read More »
Ka’b ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever seeks knowledge to impress the scholars, to argue with the foolish, or to attract the attention of people, Allah will admit him into Hellfire.” Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2654 Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Albani عَنْ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ …
Hadith on Knowledge: Warning to study Islam for worldly reasons Read More »
Ibn Umar reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever intercedes to obstruct a prescribed punishment from Allah, he has opposed Allah. Whoever argues in falsehood and he knows it, Allah will be angry with him until he retracts it. Whoever claims about a believer what is not true about him, Allah …
Hadith on Truth: Allah opposes liars, backbiters, slanderers Read More »
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “May Allah have mercy on a man who spoke rightly and was rewarded, or who was silent and remained safe.” Source: Shu’ab al-Imān 4589 Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Albani عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ …
Hadith on Silence: Speak truth, or be silent and safe Read More »
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, when Allah Almighty bestows bounties upon a servant, He loves to see the traces of His bounties upon him. He dislikes one who wallows in misery and pessimism. Allah hates the obstinate questioner, and He loves those who are modest, …
Hadith on Bounties: Allah loves to see traces of His blessings Read More »