Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying. Don't nurse malice against one another, don't nurse aversion against one another and don't be inquisitive about one another and don't outbid one another (with a view to raising the price) and be fellow-brothers and servants of Allah.
Hadith Text
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: "Don't nurse malice against one another, don't nurse aversion against one another and don't be inquisitive about one another and don't outbid one another (with a view to raising the price) and be fellow-brothers and servants of Allah."
Prohibition of Malice and Aversion
The Prophet (ﷺ) first forbids harboring malice (hiqd) in the heart, which is the retention of anger and desire for revenge. Then he prohibits aversion (tabāʿud), which is turning away from one another and severing relations. These are diseases of the heart that destroy brotherhood.
Forbidding Excessive Inquiry
"Don't be inquisitive" refers to excessive probing into others' affairs and searching for their faults. This includes tajassus (spying) and seeking to expose what Allah has concealed. A Muslim should cover the faults of fellow Muslims as they would wish their own faults covered.
Prohibition of Unethical Bidding
The prohibition against outbidding refers to najash - increasing the price in an auction without intention to purchase, merely to deceive others. This is forbidden as it constitutes deception and fraud in commercial transactions, violating Islamic business ethics.
The Ultimate Command: Brotherhood
The hadith concludes with the positive command to be "fellow-brothers and servants of Allah." This establishes that true brotherhood in faith requires purifying the heart from these negative traits. Being servants of Allah necessitates treating His creation with mercy and justice.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam Nawawi explains that this hadith contains fundamental principles for perfecting character and maintaining social harmony. The prohibitions remove obstacles to brotherhood, while the final command establishes its foundation. The sequence shows that internal purification must precede external unity.