This chapter is about the soft, patient qualities a believer is told Allah Himself loves: hilm, the self-mastery that does not rush to anger; anah, unhurried deliberateness; and rifq, gentleness in handling people and affairs. The central idea is that these are not signs of a weak character but adornments Allah rewards and grants for, the way He rewards nothing else.
Notice how the Prophet turns these principles into a method. He stops people from beating a man who fouled the mosque, commands his Companions to make things easy and not drive people away, gives a man the single repeated counsel do not get angry, and insists that even slaughtering an animal be done with kindness. The thread is that gentleness beautifies everything it touches, and whoever is denied it is denied much good.
Hadith 631
Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لأشج عبد القيس: “إن فيك خصلتين يحبهما الله: الحلم والأناة”. ((رواه مسلم)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to Ashaj Abdul-Qais (May Allah be pleased with him), "You possess two qualities that Allah loves. These are clemency and tolerance." [Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet praised a man for two traits Allah loves: a calm, patient temper and an easygoing manner with others. Good character earns Allah's love.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 631 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 631
Hadith 632
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “ إن الله رفيق يحب الرفق في الأمر كله” ((متفق عليه)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah is Forbearer and loves forbearance in all matters." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Allah Himself is gentle and forbearing, and He loves to see that same patient gentleness in how we handle every matter.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 632 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 632
Hadith 633
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنها أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: " إن الله رفيق يحب الرفق، ويعطى على الرفق ما لا يعطى على العنف ومالا يعطى على ما سواه" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah is Forbearer and He loves forbearance, and rewards for forbearance while He does not reward severity, and does not give for any thing besides it (forbearance)." [Muslim]
In plain words
Allah loves and rewards forbearance, and He gives for gentleness what He does not give for harshness. Soft handling opens doors that severity never will.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 633 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 633
Hadith 634
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعنها أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “إن الرفق لا يكون في شئ إلا زانه، ولا ينزع من شئ إلا شانه” ((رواه مسلم)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whenever forbearance is added to something, it adorns it; and whenever it is withdrawn from something, it leaves it defective." [Muslim].
In plain words
Gentleness makes whatever it touches more beautiful, and its absence leaves things spoiled. Bring a soft manner to your dealings and they improve.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 634 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 634
Hadith 635
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: بال أعرابى في المسجد فقام الناس إليه ليقعوا فيه، فقال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم: “دعوه وأريقوا على بوله سجلاً من ماء، أو ذنوباً من ماء، فإنما بعثتم ميسرين ولم تبعثوا معسرين” ((رواه البخارى)).
A bedouin urinated in the mosque and some people rushed to beat him up. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Leave him alone and pour a bucket of water over it. You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult." [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
When a man dirtied the mosque, the Prophet stopped people from attacking him and simply had the spot washed, reminding them their mission is to make things easy, not harsh.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 635 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 635
Hadith 636
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أنس رضي الله عنه عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “يسروا ولا تعسروا وبشروا ولا تنفروا ((متفق عليه)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Make things easy and do not make them difficult, cheer the people up by conveying glad tidings to them and do not repulse (them)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Make matters easy for people rather than burdensome, and encourage them with good news instead of pushing them away. A welcoming approach draws hearts in.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 636 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 636
Hadith 637
Jarir bin 'Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن جرير بن عبد الله رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: “من يحرم الرفق يحرم الخير كله” ((رواه مسلم)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who is deprived of forbearance and gentleness is, in fact, deprived of all good." [Muslim].
In plain words
Whoever has no share of gentleness and forbearance has missed out on a great deal of good. These soft qualities are a doorway to much blessing.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 637 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 637
Hadith 638
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رجلاً قال للنبى صلى الله عليه وسلم: أوصنى قال: “لا تغضب” فردد مراراً، قال: “لا تغضب”. ((رواه البخارى)).
A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) to give him advice, and he (ﷺ) said, "Do not get angry." The man repeated that several times and he (ﷺ) replied (every time), "Do not get angry." [Al- Bukhari].
In plain words
A man asked for advice and the Prophet kept giving him the same short counsel: do not get angry. Mastering your temper is foundational to good living.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 638 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 638
Hadith 639
Abu Ya'la Shaddad bin 'Aus (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبى يعلى شداد بن أوس رضي الله عنه، عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “إن الله كتب الإحسان على كل شئ، فإذا قتلتم فأحسنوا القتلة وإذا ذبحتم فأحسنوا الذبحة، وليحد أحدكم شفرته وليرح ذبيحته” ((رواه مسلم)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Verily Allah has prescribed Ihsan (kindness) for everything. So when you kill, you must make the killing in the best manner; when you slaughter, make your slaughter in the best manner. Let one of you sharpen his knife and give ease to his animal (in order to reduce his pain)." [Muslim].
In plain words
Allah has prescribed doing things well in everything, even slaughter: sharpen the blade and spare the animal pain. Kindness extends to how we treat animals.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 639 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 639
Hadith 640
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: ما خير رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بين أمرين قط إلا أخذ أيسرهما، ما لم يكن إثماً، فإن كان إثماً، كان أبعد الناس منه، وما انتقم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لنفسه في شئ قط، إلا أن تنتهك حرمة الله، فينتقم لله تعالى. ((متفق عليه))
Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) was given a choice between two matters, he would (always) choose the easier as long as it was not sinful to do so; but if it was sinful he was most strict in avoiding it. He never took revenge upon anybody for his own sake; but when Allah's Legal Bindings were outraged, he would take revenge for Allah's sake. [Al- Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet always chose the easier of two options unless it involved sin, and he never took revenge for personal slights, only standing firm when Allah's limits were violated.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 640 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 640
Hadith 641
Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “ألا أخبركم بمن يحرم على النار -أو بمن تحرم عليه النار؟- تحرم على كل قريب هين لين سهل”. ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن)).
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Shall I not tell you whom the (Hell) Fire is forbidden to touch? It is forbidden to touch a man who is always accessible, having polite and tender nature." [At- Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hadith Hasan].
In plain words
The Prophet described a person the Hellfire is kept away from: someone easy to approach, gentle, and pleasant in nature. A soft, accessible character is deeply valued.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 641 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 641