A man praising another man

Sayyiduna al-Miqdad bin al-Aswad (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered us to throw dust in the faces of those who praise.

Ibrahim said that Hammam bin al-Harith said: A man was praising Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), so Sayyiduna al-Miqdad (may Allah be pleased with him) went and knelt down on his knees; he was a large man. He began throwing pebbles toward the face of the one praising. Sayyiduna Uthman asked him: "What is the matter with you?" He said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When you see those who praise, throw dust in their faces."

Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Beware of praising one another, for it is tantamount to slaughter."

The father of Ibrahim al-Taymi said: We were sitting with Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) when a man came in and greeted him with salam. Then a man from among the people praised him to his face. At that Sayyiduna Umar said to that person: "You have destroyed this man, may Allah destroy you! Are you praising him to his face about his religion?"

Aslam said: I heard Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) say: "Praising is tantamount to slaughter."

Abu al-Ahwas said that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "When one of you wishes to ask for something he needs, let him ask lightly. Let him not come to a man and praise him to his face, thereby breaking his back, so that the man cannot withhold anything from him."

Abd al-Rahman bin Abi Bakrah said that his father, Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him), said: Someone praised a man in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). At that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the one praising, several times: "Woe to you, you have cut your companion's neck." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If one of you must praise his brother, let him say: 'I think him to be so, and I do not declare anyone pure before Allah.'"

Asim said: I asked Ghunaym: "Is it disliked for a man to praise his brother in his presence?" He said: "Yes." I asked: "And if that person is absent?" He said: "It used to be said: Do not praise your brother."

Tawus said that Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "After the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), I do not declare anyone pure."

Ata bin Abi Rabah said: A man was praising another man in the presence of Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both). So Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) began throwing dust at his face with his fingers, and he said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When you see those who praise, throw dust into their mouths."

Hammam said: A man came and praised Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) to his face. At this, Sayyiduna al-Miqdad bin al-Aswad (may Allah be pleased with him) picked up some dust and threw it in his face, and said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When you meet those who praise, throw dust in their faces."

Yazid bin Sharik, the father of Ibrahim, said: We were sitting with Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) when a man praised another man to his face. When he had turned away, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "You have destroyed the man, may Allah destroy you too."