Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Sayyiduna Abu Juray Jabir bin Sulaym (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I saw a man to whom people would submit their opinions; whatever he said, they would accept it. I asked: Who is this man? They said: This is the Messenger of Allah. I said twice: O Messenger of Allah! «عليك السلام». The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Do not say «عليك السلام», for that is the greeting of the dead; (for greeting the living) say «السلام عليكم». I asked: Are you the Messenger of Allah? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I am the Messenger of Allah, that if any harm befalls you and you call upon Him, He will remove your harm; if you are afflicted by famine and you call upon Him, He will cause (grapes) to grow for you from the earth; and if you are in a barren, waterless desert and your mount is lost, and then you pray to Him, He will return your mount to you.” I said: Please give me some advice. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not abuse anyone, do not consider any good deed insignificant, even if it is meeting your brother with a cheerful face. Keep your lower garment halfway up your shins; if you do not do so, then at least up to the ankles. Beware of letting your garment (or trousers, etc.) hang below the ankles, for doing so is arrogance, and Allah does not like arrogance. If a man reproaches you for a bad deed of yours which he knows, do not taunt him for a fault of his which you know, for the consequence of that will be upon him.” In another narration, there is an addition to these words: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not abuse anyone.” So Abu Juray said: After this advice, I never spoke ill of any free man or slave, nor even a camel or a goat.