Al-Adab Al-Mufrad
Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 334
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ زَكَرِيَّا قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي بُرَيْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ: سَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً يُثْنِي عَلَى رَجُلٍ وَيُطْرِيهِ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: أَهْلَكْتُمْ، أَوْ قَطَعْتُمْ، ظَهْرَ الرَّجُلِ.
Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.
Abu Musa reported that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) heard a man praising another and going to excess in his praise. The Prophet said, ‘You have destroyed him—or broken the man’s back.’
Notes and open questions — unreviewed
The Arabic presents two alternative verbs, ‘destroyed’ or ‘broke’; the translation retains the alternative rather than selecting one.