Al-Adab Al-Mufrad
Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 333
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً ذُكِرَ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ خَيْرًا، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: وَيْحَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ، يَقُولُهُ مِرَارًا، إِنْ كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَادِحًا لاَ مَحَالَةَ فَلْيَقُلْ: أَحْسَبُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، إِنْ كَانَ يَرَى أَنَّهُ كَذَلِكَ، وَحَسِيبُهُ اللَّهُ، وَلاَ يُزَكِّي عَلَى اللهِ أَحَدًا.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Bakra reported that a man was mentioned in the presence of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and another man praised him. The Prophet said repeatedly, ‘Woe to you! You have cut your companion’s neck!’ Then he said, ‘If one of you simply must praise someone, let him say, “I think so-and-so is such-and-such,” if he believes that to be the case. Allah is his reckoner, and no one should declare anyone pure before Allah.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The warning ‘you have cut your companion’s neck’ is an Arabic idiom for gravely harming him through praise; the literal image is retained, as in the English witness.