Toggle above to switch between keyword search and direct hadith lookup
الادب المفرد
Adab al-Mufrad
كتابBook of Mutual Love Among People
بَابُ حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِChapter: Good Character
Hadith 274
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ: مَا خُيِّرَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَيْنَ أَمْرَيْنِ إِلاَّ اخْتَارَ أَيْسَرَهُمَا، مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ إِثْمًا، فَإِذَا كَانَ إِثْمًا كَانَ أَبْعَدَ النَّاسِ مِنْهُ، وَمَا انْتَقَمَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِنَفْسِهِ، إِلاَّ أَنْ تُنْتَهَكَ حُرْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالَى، فَيَنْتَقِمُ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِهَا.
It is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), she says that whenever the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was given a choice between two matters, he would choose the easier of the two, as long as it was not sinful. If it was a sinful matter, then he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would be the farthest from it. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) never took revenge for himself, except when the sanctity of Allah was violated, then he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would take revenge for the sake of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Usman Muneeb
Benefits and Issues:
➊ It is part of good character that a person should be inclined towards ease within the limits set by the Shariah. One should not be an extremist or obstinate, but rather should adopt resolve (azimah). For example, Allah Almighty has given the option in ablution (wudu) to either wash the feet or wipe over the socks (masah). If someone acts only on washing the feet and does not accept the act of wiping, then this is obstinacy, which is not a trait of good character. However, ease does not mean that if there is ease in something forbidden (haram), one should adopt it; rather, you (the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would avoid the forbidden most strictly. This ease is only in permissible and lawful matters.
➋ An objection is sometimes raised against the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that he fought battles and killed people, whereas he was the embodiment of good character. The answer to this is also found in this hadith: he never did so for personal revenge. Whatever he did was for the sanctity of Allah Almighty. And doing so is not contrary to good character. Just as a doctor amputates or operates on a useless part of the body, and no one calls him a tyrant because he does it for correction, similarly, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did so for the sake of reform, which is the very essence of good character.
➊ It is part of good character that a person should be inclined towards ease within the limits set by the Shariah. One should not be an extremist or obstinate, but rather should adopt resolve (azimah). For example, Allah Almighty has given the option in ablution (wudu) to either wash the feet or wipe over the socks (masah). If someone acts only on washing the feet and does not accept the act of wiping, then this is obstinacy, which is not a trait of good character. However, ease does not mean that if there is ease in something forbidden (haram), one should adopt it; rather, you (the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would avoid the forbidden most strictly. This ease is only in permissible and lawful matters.
➋ An objection is sometimes raised against the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that he fought battles and killed people, whereas he was the embodiment of good character. The answer to this is also found in this hadith: he never did so for personal revenge. Whatever he did was for the sanctity of Allah Almighty. And doing so is not contrary to good character. Just as a doctor amputates or operates on a useless part of the body, and no one calls him a tyrant because he does it for correction, similarly, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did so for the sake of reform, which is the very essence of good character.
Source: Fadlullah al-Ahad: Urdu Commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, Page: 274
