شمائل ترمذي
Shamail Tirmidhi
باب ما جاء فى خلق رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلمChapter: What has been reported concerning the character of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
Treating even bad people kindly
Hadith 343
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ أَبِي زِيَادٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ الْقُرَظِيِّ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُقْبِلُ بِوَجْهِهِ وَحَدِيثِهِ عَلَى أَشَرِّ الْقَوْمِ يَتَأَلَّفُهُمْ بِذَلِكَ فَكَانَ يُقْبِلُ بِوَجْهِهِ وَحَدِيثِهِ عَلَيَّ، حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنِّي خَيْرُ الْقَوْمِ، فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَنَا خَيْرٌ أَوْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ؟ قَالَ: «أَبُو بَكْرٍ» فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَنَا خَيْرٌ أَوْ عُمَرُ؟ فَقَالَ: «عُمَرُ» ، فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَنَا خَيْرٌ أَوْ عُثْمَانُ؟ قَالَ: «عُثْمَانُ» ، فَلَمَّا سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَصَدَقَنِي فَلَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ سَأَلْتُهُ
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would turn his entire radiant face and speak gently even to the worst person of the people, so that he might gain affection and inclination because of it. In the same way, he would give me his full attention and speak to me with loving words, until I became convinced that I was the best person among the people. I asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Am I better or Abu Bakr?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “Abu Bakr.” Then I asked, “Am I better or Umar?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “Umar.” Then I asked, “Am I better or Uthman?” The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “Uthman.” When I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) this, he gave me a most truthful answer; however, I wished that I had not asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about this.
