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Hadith #243 of 500 • Sunan Abu Dawud • Sahih

Sunan Abu Dawud 4910 (Book 43, Hadith 138) — Good Character and Manners

Narrated by Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه) • Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani (Sahih); Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid (Sahih); Shuaib Al Arnaut (Sahih); Zubair Ali Zai (Sahih Bukhari (6075) Sahih Muslim (2559)))

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Hadith Translation Language:
#243 • Sunan Abu Dawud 4910 (Book 43, Hadith 138)Sunan Abu DawudGood Character and Manners
Sahih (Authentic)
Primary Companion Narrator
Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه)

Anas b. Malik reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying

Book & Reference: General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab) (Book 43, Hadith 138)
Scholarly Grading Source: Al-Albani (Sahih); Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid (Sahih); Shuaib Al Arnaut (Sahih); Zubair Ali Zai (Sahih Bukhari (6075) Sahih Muslim (2559))

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ لاَ تَبَاغَضُوا وَلاَ تَحَاسَدُوا وَلاَ تَدَابَرُوا وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَانًا وَلاَ يَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَهْجُرَ أَخَاهُ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثِ لَيَالٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Anas b. Malik reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying:Do not hate each other; do not envy each other; do not desert each other; and be the servants of Allah as brethren. It is not allowed for a Muslim to keep apart from his brother for more than three days

— Prof. Ahmad Hasan / Nasiruddin al-Khattab (Sunan Abu Dawud)

Audio Policy: Out of reverence for the words of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, synthetic or AI-generated speech is strictly disabled for Hadith narrations.
IslamTools Editorial Study Notes (Distinct from Prophetic Text)Good Character and Manners

Main Lesson & Core Meaning

Nothing weighs heavier in the scale of the believer on the Day of Resurrection than noble character, and the dearest of people to the Prophet ﷺ are those best in manners.

Practical Daily Application

Speak good or remain silent, restrain anger when provoked, greet others with a cheerful face, and embody modesty in public and private.

Key Islamic Terms & Vocabulary

Husn al-Khuluq (حسن الخلق)

Excellence of character: cheerful countenance, generous kindness, and refraining from harming others.

Haya' (الحياء)

Moral modesty and conscience that restrains a person from indecent actions.

Hilm (الحلم)

Forbearance, gentleness, and self-restraint in moments of anger.

Scholarly Context & Jurisprudence Note

Imam at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Rajab record that the scholars defined good character as having an open, welcoming face, spending in goodness, and withholding harm from creation.

Educational Note: This library is for Islamic study and education. Applying Hadith to complex personal legal matters (Fiqh) requires qualified scholarly guidance.

Noble Companion & Hadith Transmitterرضي الله عنه

أنس بن مالك الأنصاري الخزرجي

Anas ibn Malik (Anas ibn Malik al-Ansari)

The devoted attendant (Khadim) of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for ten years in Madinah, from the Hijrah until the Prophet's passing. He witnessed the Prophet's noble character firsthand andreceived his blessed supplication for abundant wealth, children, and long life in obedience.

Source Verification & Scholarly Audit Record

APPROVED_FOR_PUBLICATION
Collection: Sunan Abu Dawud (Sunan Abu Dawud 4910 (Book 43, Hadith 138))
Scholarly Grading Source: Al-Albani (Sahih); Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid (Sahih); Shuaib Al Arnaut (Sahih); Zubair Ali Zai (Sahih Bukhari (6075) Sahih Muslim (2559))
Al-Albani: SahihMuhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid: SahihShuaib Al Arnaut: SahihZubair Ali Zai: Sahih Bukhari (6075) Sahih Muslim (2559)
SOURCE_IDENTIFIEDARABIC_TEXT_VERIFIEDREFERENCE_VERIFIEDNARRATOR_VERIFIEDAUTHENTICITY_VERIFIEDTRANSLATION_VERIFIEDCOPYRIGHT_VERIFIEDEDITORIAL_REVIEWEDAPPROVED_FOR_PUBLICATION

Related Quranic Ayahs

Related Prophetic Hadith

Book & Reference: Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab) (Bk. 78, No. 145)

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما مَرَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى رَجُلٍ وَهْوَ يُعَاتَبُ فِي الْحَيَاءِ يَقُولُ إِنَّكَ لَتَسْتَحْيِي‏.‏ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهُ يَقُولُ قَدْ أَضَرَّ بِكَ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ دَعْهُ فَإِنَّ الْحَيَاءَ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Umar:The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by a man who was admonishing his brother regarding Haya' (pious shyness from committing religeous indiscretions) and was saying, "You are very shy, and I am afraid that might harm you." On that, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Leave him, for Haya' is (a part) of Faith

— Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan (Sahih al-Bukhari English Translation)

Scholarly Grading Source: Imam Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari (Ijma' / Scholarly Consensus)
Full Reference & Explanation
Primary Companion Narrator:Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه)
Book & Reference: The Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship (Bk. 45, No. 35)

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِيَّاكُمْ وَالظَّنَّ فَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ أَكْذَبُ الْحَدِيثِ وَلاَ تَحَسَّسُوا وَلاَ تَجَسَّسُوا وَلاَ تَنَافَسُوا وَلاَ تَحَاسَدُوا وَلاَ تَبَاغَضُوا وَلاَ تَدَابَرُوا وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَانًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Avoid suspicion, for suspicion is the gravest lie in talk and do not be inquisitive about one another and do not spy upon one another and do not feel envy with the other, and nurse no malice, and nurse no aversion and hostility against one another. And be fellow-brothers and servants of Allah

— Abdul Hamid Siddiqui (Sahih Muslim English Translation)

Scholarly Grading Source: Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (Ijma' / Scholarly Consensus)
Full Reference & Explanation
Book & Reference: Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Injunctions about Witr (Bk. 8, No. 117)

حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، وَيَحْيَى بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، وَسُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ مُجَاهِدٍ أَبُو حَزْرَةَ، عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ تَدْعُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَلاَ تَدْعُوا عَلَى أَوْلاَدِكُمْ وَلاَ تَدْعُوا عَلَى خَدَمِكُمْ وَلاَ تَدْعُوا عَلَى أَمْوَالِكُمْ لاَ تُوَافِقُوا مِنَ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى سَاعَةَ نَيْلٍ فِيهَا عَطَاءٌ فَيَسْتَجِيبَ لَكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مُتَّصِلُ الإِسْنَادِ فَإِنَّ عُبَادَةَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ لَقِيَ جَابِرًا ‏.‏

Jabir b. 'Abd Allah reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying:Do not invoke curse on yourselves, and do not invoke curse on your children, and do not invoke curse on your servants, and do not invoke curse on your property, lest you happen to do it at a time when Allah is asked for something and grants your request. Abu Dawud said: This Hadith has a continuous chain of narrators, 'Ubadah bin Al-Walid bin 'Ubadah (did) met Jabir

— Prof. Ahmad Hasan / Nasiruddin al-Khattab (Sunan Abu Dawud)

Scholarly Grading Source: Al-Albani (Sahih); Muhammad Muhyi Al-Din Abdul Hamid (Sahih); Shuaib Al Arnaut (Sahih); Zubair Ali Zai (Sahih)
Full Reference & Explanation
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