Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 273

Prohibition of Despising Muslims

باب تحريم احتقار المسلمين

This chapter turns on a single, searching idea: that to belittle a fellow believer is itself a grave wrong. The Arabic title speaks of ihtiqar, the act of looking down on someone as small or worthless. Islam treats every Muslim's honour as protected, so the contempt we may feel for another is not a private mood but a sin we will answer for.

Read the three reports together and a pattern appears. The first names contempt as enough evil on its own. The second traces it to its root, kibr, the pride that puffs the self up and pushes others down. The third shows where it leads: presuming to know whom Allah will and will not forgive. Notice that the cure offered is not lowering our standards of beauty or excellence, but lowering our estimate of ourselves before God and our neighbour.

Hadith 1574

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏ "‏بحسب امرئ من الشر أن يحقر المسلم‏" ‏‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم، وقد سبق قريبًا بطوله‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "It is enough evil for a Muslim to look down upon his (Muslim) brother." [Muslim].

In plain words

It is wrong enough on its own to look down on a fellow Muslim. Holding others in contempt is itself a serious fault.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1574 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 64

Hadith 1575

Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

وعن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏"‏لا يدخل الجنة من كان في قلبه مثقال ذرة من كبر‏"‏ فقال رجل‏:‏ إن الرجل يحب أن يكون ثوبه حسنًا، ونعله حسنة، فقال‏:‏ ‏"‏إن الله جميل يحب الجمال، الكبر بَطَر الحق، وغمط الناس‏"‏‏.‏‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ ومعنى ‏"‏بَطَر الحق‏"‏‏:‏ دفعه، ‏"‏وغمطهم‏"‏‏:‏ احتقارهم، وقد سبق بيانه أوضح من هذا في باب الكبر‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The haughty, even with pride equal to a mustard seed in his heart, will not enter Jannah." A man enquired: "What about that a person likes fine dress and fine shoes?" He said: "Allah is Beautiful and likes beauty. Pride amounts to disclaiming truth out of self- esteem, and despising people." [Muslim].

In plain words

Even a speck of arrogance in the heart shuts a person out of Paradise. The Prophet (peace be upon him) explains that loving fine things is fine, but pride means rejecting the truth and despising people.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1575 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 65

Hadith 1576

Jundub bin 'Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعن جُندب بن عبد الله رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏ "‏قال رجل‏:‏ والله لا يغفر الله لفلان، فقال الله عز وجل‏:‏ من ذا الذي يتألى علي أن لا أغفر لفلان‏!‏ فإني قد غفرت له، وأحبطت عملك‏" ‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Once someone said: 'By Allah! Allah will not forgive such and such (a person).' Thereupon Allah, the Exalted and the Glorious, said: 'Who is he who takes an oath in My Name that I will not grant pardon to so-and-so? I have granted pardon to so-and-so and rendered your good deeds fruitless."' [Muslim].

In plain words

A man swore that Allah would never forgive someone, so Allah forgave that person and cancelled the swearer's own good deeds. We are not to presume to know whom Allah will or will not pardon.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1576 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 66