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» You (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? You (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I am the Messenger of Allah, the One that if any harm befalls you and you call upon Him, He will remove it; if you are afflicted by famine and you supplicate to Him, He will cause vegetation to grow from the earth; and if you are in a barren, desolate wilderness and your mount is lost and you call upon Him, He will return it to you.” I said: Please give me some advice. You (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not abuse anyone, do not consider any good deed insignificant, even if it is speaking to your brother with a cheerful face. Raise your lower garment to the middle of your shin; if not, then to the ankles, but beware of letting your garment (or trousers, etc.) hang below the ankles, for that is arrogance, and Allah does not like arrogance. If a man reproaches you for a bad deed of yours that he knows about, do not taunt him for a fault of his that you know, for the consequence of that will be upon him.” In another narration, there is an addition in these words: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not abuse anyone.” So Abu Juray said: After this advice, I never abused any free man or slave, not even a camel or a goat.