Hadith 37763

Chapter 83

باب 83

(83) بَابُ سُوءِ الْمَلَكَةِ

(83) Chapter: Being a bad owner
4
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ صَالِحٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ لِلنَّاسِ: نَحْنُ أَعْرَفُ بِكُمْ مِنَ الْبَيَاطِرَةِ بِالدَّوَابِّ، قَدْ عَرَفْنَا خِيَارَكُمْ مِنْ شِرَارِكُمْ. أَمَّا خِيَارُكُمُ: الَّذِي يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ، وَيُؤْمَنُ شَرُّهُ. وَأَمَّا شِرَارُكُمْ: فَالَّذِي لاَ يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ، وَلاَ يُؤْمَنُ شَرُّهُ، وَلاَ يُعْتَقُ مُحَرَّرُهُ.


Abu'd-Darda' used to say to people. "We know you better than theveterinarian knows his animals. We recognise the best of you from the worstof you. The best of you is the one whose good is hoped for and the onewhose evil you are safe from. As for the worst of you, that is the personwhose good is not hoped for and whose evil you are not safe from and hedoes not free slaves."

Reference: Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 159

In-book reference: Book 9, Hadith 4

English translation: Book 9, Hadith 159