Al-Adab Al-Mufrad

Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 164

Arabic hadith text

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ‏:‏ قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَدِينَةَ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ خَادِمٌ، فَأَخَذَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ بِيَدِي، فَانْطَلَقَ بِي حَتَّى أَدْخَلَنِي عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَقَالَ‏:‏ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ، إِنَّ أَنَسًا غُلاَمٌ كَيِّسٌ لَبِيبٌ، فَلْيَخْدُمْكَ‏.‏ قَالَ‏:‏ فَخَدَمْتُهُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَالْحَضَرِ، مَقْدَمَهُ الْمَدِينَةَ حَتَّى تُوُفِّيَ صلى الله عليه وسلم، مَا قَالَ لِي لِشَيْءٍ صَنَعْتُ‏:‏ لِمَ صَنَعْتَ هَذَا هَكَذَا‏؟‏ وَلاَ قَالَ لِي لِشَيْءٍ لَمْ أَصْنَعْهُ‏:‏ أَلاَ صَنَعْتَ هَذَا هَكَذَا‏؟‏‏.‏

Translation

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Mamr narrated to us. He said: Abd al-Warith narrated to us. He said: Abd al-Aziz narrated to us, from Anas, who said: When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, arrived in Medina, he had no servant. Abu Talha took me by the hand and brought me to the Prophet, saying, 'Prophet of Allah, Anas is a capable, perceptive boy; let him serve you.' I served him in travel and at home, from his arrival in Medina until he passed away. He never said to me about anything I had done, 'Why did you do that this way?' nor about anything I had not done, 'Why did you not do it this way?'

Notes and open questions — unreviewed
  • إِنَّ أَنَسًا غُلاَمٌ كَيِّسٌ لَبِيبٌ،

    The paired adjectives describe practical intelligence and discernment; several natural English renderings are possible.

    Does the chosen pair retain the praise without overstatement?