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الادب المفرد
Adab al-Mufrad
كتابBook of Good Treatment of Servants
بَابُ سُوءِ الْمَلَكَةِChapter: Bad Treatment of Slaves
Hadith 159
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ صَالِحٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ لِلنَّاسِ: نَحْنُ أَعْرَفُ بِكُمْ مِنَ الْبَيَاطِرَةِ بِالدَّوَابِّ، قَدْ عَرَفْنَا خِيَارَكُمْ مِنْ شِرَارِكُمْ. أَمَّا خِيَارُكُمُ: الَّذِي يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ، وَيُؤْمَنُ شَرُّهُ. وَأَمَّا شِرَارُكُمْ: فَالَّذِي لاَ يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ، وَلاَ يُؤْمَنُ شَرُّهُ، وَلاَ يُعْتَقُ مُحَرَّرُهُ.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that he used to say to the people: “We know you better than animal healers know animals. We know those among you who are good and those among you who are bad. Your good people are those from whom good is expected and from whose evil people are safe. And the bad ones are those from whom no good is expected and from whose evil there is no safety, and even their freed slave is not truly free.”
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Usman Muneeb
Benefits and Issues:
Sayyiduna Abu Darda radi Allahu anhu described the distinguishing features of good and bad people: bad people are those from whose mischief others are constantly fearful, and from whom good is rarely expected; while good people are those who are harmless and well-wishers of others, and from whom people always expect goodness. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Some people are keys to goodness and locks to evil (i.e., only goodness is manifested from them), and some are keys to evil and locks to goodness (i.e., goodness is rarely expected from them). So, glad tidings to the one whom Allah makes a key to goodness, and destruction to the one who is a key to evil.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Al-Muqaddimah, Hadith: 237)
Furthermore, this indicates the dignity and intelligence of the believer: he recognizes well the difference between good and evil, and between the good and the bad.
In conclusion, Abu Darda radi Allahu anhu mentioned another sign of bad people: they do not free slaves, and if they do, they still demand service from them and continue to remind them of the favor of granting freedom.
Sayyiduna Abu Darda radi Allahu anhu described the distinguishing features of good and bad people: bad people are those from whose mischief others are constantly fearful, and from whom good is rarely expected; while good people are those who are harmless and well-wishers of others, and from whom people always expect goodness. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Some people are keys to goodness and locks to evil (i.e., only goodness is manifested from them), and some are keys to evil and locks to goodness (i.e., goodness is rarely expected from them). So, glad tidings to the one whom Allah makes a key to goodness, and destruction to the one who is a key to evil.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Al-Muqaddimah, Hadith: 237)
Furthermore, this indicates the dignity and intelligence of the believer: he recognizes well the difference between good and evil, and between the good and the bad.
In conclusion, Abu Darda radi Allahu anhu mentioned another sign of bad people: they do not free slaves, and if they do, they still demand service from them and continue to remind them of the favor of granting freedom.
Source: Fadlullah al-Ahad: Urdu Commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, Page: 159
