Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 330

Undesirability of Calling Grapes 'Al-Karm'

باب كراهية تسمية العنب كَرْمًا

Here the Prophet (peace be upon him) reshapes a single word. In Arabic al-karm is rooted in karam, meaning generosity and nobility, and the Arabs had attached this honourable name to the grapevine, the source of wine. The Prophet (peace be upon him) redirected that noble word away from the plant of intoxication and reserved its dignity for the believer's heart.

Across these two narrations the lesson is the same: true nobility belongs not to a vine but to the heart filled with faith. The Buruja takeaway is to notice how the Prophet (peace be upon him) trains the imagination through language, gently steering honour toward what truly deserves it.

Hadith 1740

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

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏"‏لا تسموا العنب الكَرْم، فإن الكَرْم المسلم‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏وهذا لفظ مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ وفي رواية‏:‏ ‏"‏فإنما الكرم قلب المؤمن‏"‏ وفي رواية للبخاري ومسلم‏:‏ ‏"‏يقولون الكرم، إنما الكرم قلب المؤمن‏"‏‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "None of you should use the word Al-Karm for grapes, for Al-Karm is a Muslim (worthy of respect)." [Al- Bukhari and Muslim] Another narration is: "Verily, Al-Karm is the heart of a true believer." Another narration is: "People have named grapes as Al-Karm; verily, only the heart of a believer is Al-Karm."

In plain words

The Prophet redirected the honourable word al-karm away from the grapevine, the source of wine, saying it truly belongs to the heart of a believer. True nobility lies in faith, not a vine.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1740 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 230

Hadith 1741

Wa'il bin Hujr (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

وعن وائل بن حجر رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏ "‏لا تقولوا‏:‏ الكَرْم، ولكن قولوا‏:‏ العنب، والحَبَْلة‏" ‏ رواه مسلم الحبلة بفتح الحاء والباء ويقال أيضا بإسكان الباء

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not say Al-Karm when talking about grapes but say Al-'Inab or Al-Habalah." [Muslim].

In plain words

Rather than calling grapes al-karm, use the plain names for them. The Prophet trains the imagination through language, reserving the word of honour for what deserves it.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1741 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 231