Shall I not tell you who among you are the best and who are the worst? · Explained ḥadīths

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَقَفَ عَلَى نَاسٍ جُلُوسٍ، فَقَالَ: «أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِكُمْ مِنْ شَرِّكُمْ؟» قَالَ: فَسَكَتُوا، فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ، فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ: بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، أَخْبِرْنَا بِخَيْرِنَا مِنْ شَرِّنَا، قَالَ: «خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ وَيُؤْمَنُ شَرُّهُ، وَشَرُّكُمْ مَنْ لاَ يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ وَلاَ يُؤْمَنُ شَرُّهُ».

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood by some people who were sitting, and said: "Shall I not tell you who among you are the best and who are the worst?" He said: They remained silent, so he repeated this three times. Then a man said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah, tell us who among us are the best and who are the worst. He (ﷺ) said: "The best of you are those from whom good is expected and people are safe from their evil; and the worst of you are those from whom no good is expected and people are not safe from their evil."

Narrated by At-TirmidhiGradeAuthentic

Explanation

The Prophet (ﷺ) stood by a group of his Companions who were sitting and asked them: Shall I tell you who among you are the best and who are the worst? They remained silent and did not respond, fearing that he might distinguish between the good and the bad among them, and out of concern for exposure or embarrassment, they stayed quiet. The Prophet (ﷺ) repeated his question to them three times. Then one of the men replied: Yes, O Messenger of Allah, tell us who among us are the best and who are the worst. The Prophet (ﷺ) explained to them that the best among you are those whose goodness, kindness, and benevolence are hoped for and expected, and from whose evil people feel safe—they are not feared for their transgression, mistreatment, or oppression. As for the worst among you, they are those from whom no good, kindness, or benevolence are hoped for or expected, and from whose evil people are not secure—they are feared for their transgression, mistreatment, and oppression.

Benefits

Clarifying the best among people and the worst among them.
Benefit or harm that extends to others is greater in significance than that which is limited to oneself.
Encouragement to uphold good character and kind dealings among people, and a warning against wrongdoing, evil, and aggression.

Reference

سنن الترمذي (4/ 98) (2263). التيسير بشرح الجامع الصغير (1/ 395). تحفة الأحوذي (6/ 445).

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