Sunan Abi Dawud
كتاب الأدب
Regarding intercession
A similar tradition has also been transmitted by Abu Musa from the prophet (May peace be upon him) through a different chain of narrators.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَهُ
A man should begin with his own name when writing a letter
Narrated al-Ala' ibn al-Hadrami:
Some of the children of al-Ala' ibn al-Hadrami said: Al-Ala' ibn al-Hadrami was the governor of the Prophet (ﷺ) at al-Bahrayn, and when he wrote to him he began with his won name.
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ قَالَ أَحْمَدُ قَالَ مَرَّةً يَعْنِي هُشَيْمًا عَنْ بَعْضِ وَلَدِ الْعَلاَءِ أَنَّ الْعَلاَءَ بْنَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ كَانَ عَامِلَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْبَحْرَيْنِ فَكَانَ إِذَا كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ بَدَأَ بِنَفْسِهِ
A man should begin with his own name when writing a letter
Ibn al-Ala said : Al-Ala b. al-Hadrami wrote to the prophet (May peace be upon him), and he began with his name.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعَلَّى بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ عَنِ ابْنِ الْعَلاَءِ عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَدَأَ بِاسْمِهِ
How to write to a dhimmi
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
The Prophet (ﷺ) wrote a letter to Heraclius: "From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to Hiraql (Heraclius), Chief of the Byzantines. Peace be to those who follow the guidance." Ibn Yahya reported on the authority of Ibn Abbas that AbuSufyan said to him: We then came to see Hiraql (Heraclius) who seated us before him. He then called for the letter from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Its contents were: "In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful, from Muhammad the Messenger of Allah, to Hiraql, chief of Byzantines. Peace be to those who follow the guidance. To proceed."
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَتَبَ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ عَظِيمِ الرُّومِ سَلاَمٌ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى قَالَ ابْنُ يَحْيَى عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ أَبَا سُفْيَانَ أَخْبَرَهُ قَالَ فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَى هِرَقْلَ فَأَجْلَسَنَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِكِتَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَإِذَا فِيهِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ عَظِيمِ الرُّومِ سَلاَمٌ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى أَمَّا بَعْدُ
Regarding honoring one's parents
Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying: A son does not repay what he owes to his father unless he buys him and emancipates him if he finds him in slavery.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سُهَيْلُ بْنُ أَبِي صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ يَجْزِي وَلَدٌ وَالِدَهُ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَجِدَهُ مَمْلُوكًا فَيَشْتَرِيَهُ فَيُعْتِقَهُ
Regarding honoring one's parents
Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:
A woman was my wife and I loved her, but Umar hated her. He said to me: Divorce her, but I refused. Umar then went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and mentioned that to him. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Divorce her.
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي خَالِي الْحَارِثُ عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ كَانَتْ تَحْتِي امْرَأَةٌ وَكُنْتُ أُحِبُّهَا وَكَانَ عُمَرُ يَكْرَهُهَا فَقَالَ لِي طَلِّقْهَا فَأَبَيْتُ فَأَتَى عُمَرُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم طَلِّقْهَا
Regarding honoring one's parents
Bahz b. Hakim on his father's authority said that his grandfather said: I said: Messenger of Allah! to whom should I show kindness? He replied: Your mother, next your mother, next your mother, and then comes your father, and then your relatives in order of relationship. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If a man asks his slave whom he freed for giving him property which is surplus with him and he refuses to give it to him, the surplus property which he refused to give will be called on the Day of resurrection as a large bald snake.
Abu Dawud said: Aqra' means a snake whose hair of the head were removed on account of poison.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنْ بَهْزِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَبَرُّ قَالَ أُمَّكَ ثُمَّ أُمَّكَ ثُمَّ أُمَّكَ ثُمَّ أَبَاكَ ثُمَّ الأَقْرَبَ فَالأَقْرَبَ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ يَسْأَلُ رَجُلٌ مَوْلاَهُ مِنْ فَضْلٍ هُوَ عِنْدَهُ فَيَمْنَعُهُ إِيَّاهُ إِلاَّ دُعِيَ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَضْلُهُ الَّذِي مَنَعَهُ شُجَاعًا أَقْرَعَ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ الأَقْرَعُ الَّذِي ذَهَبَ شَعْرُ رَأْسِهِ مِنَ السُّمِّ
Regarding honoring one's parents
Kulaib b. Manfa'ah said that his grandfather told then he went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah! to whom should I show kindness? He said: Your mother, your sister, your brother and the slave whom you set free and who is your relative, a due binding (on you), and a tie of relationship which should be joined.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى حَدَّثَنَا الْحَارِثُ بْنُ مُرَّةَ حَدَّثَنَا كُلَيْبُ بْنُ مَنْفَعَةَ عَنْ جَدِّهِ أَنَّهُ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَبَرُّ قَالَ أُمَّكَ وَأَبَاكَ وَأُخْتَكَ وَأَخَاكَ وَمَوْلاَكَ الَّذِي يَلِي ذَاكَ حَقٌّ وَاجِبٌ وَرَحِمٌ مَوْصُولَةٌ
Regarding honoring one's parents
‘Abd Allah b. ‘Amr (b. al-As) reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying: A man’s reviling of his parents is one of the grave sins. He was asked : Messenger of Allah! How does a man revile his parents? He replied: He reviles the father of a man who then reviles his father, and he reviles a man’s mother and he reviles his.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَقَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبَّادُ بْنُ مُوسَى قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّ مِنْ أَكْبَرِ الْكَبَائِرِ أَنْ يَلْعَنَ الرَّجُلُ وَالِدَيْهِ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ يَلْعَنُ الرَّجُلُ وَالِدَيْهِ قَالَ يَلْعَنُ أَبَا الرَّجُلِ فَيَلْعَنُ أَبَاهُ وَيَلْعَنُ أُمَّهُ فَيَلْعَنُ أُمَّهُ
Regarding honoring one's parents
Narrated AbuUsayd Malik ibn Rabi'ah as-Sa'idi:
While we were with the Messenger of Allah! (ﷺ) a man of Banu Salmah came to Him and said: Messenger of Allah is there any kindness left that I can do to my parents after their death? He replied: Yes, you can invoke blessings on them, forgiveness for them, carry out their final instructions after their death, join ties of relationship which are dependent on them, and honour their friends.
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ وَعُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ الْمَعْنَى قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ أَسِيدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ مَوْلَى بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي أُسَيْدٍ مَالِكِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ السَّاعِدِيِّ قَالَ بَيْنَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا جَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ بَقِيَ مِنْ بِرِّ أَبَوَىَّ شَىْءٌ أَبَرُّهُمَا بِهِ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِمَا قَالَ نَعَمِ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَيْهِمَا وَالاِسْتِغْفَارُ لَهُمَا وَإِنْفَاذُ عَهْدِهِمَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمَا وَصِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ الَّتِي لاَ تُوصَلُ إِلاَّ بِهِمَا وَإِكْرَامُ صَدِيقِهِمَا
Regarding honoring one's parents
Ibn ‘Umar reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying: One of the finest acts of kindness is for a man to treat his father’s friends in a kindly way after he has departed.
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النَّضْرِ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ الْهَادِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّ أَبَرَّ الْبِرِّ صِلَةُ الْمَرْءِ أَهْلَ وُدِّ أَبِيهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يُوَلِّيَ
Regarding honoring one's parents
Narrated AbutTufayl:
I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) distributing flesh at Ji'irranah, and I was a boy in those days bearing the bone of the camel, and when a woman who came forward approach the Prophet (ﷺ), he spread out his cloak for her, and she sat on it. I asked: Who is she? The people said: She is his foster-mother.
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي جَعْفَرُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ ثَوْبَانَ أَخْبَرَنَا عُمَارَةُ بْنُ ثَوْبَانَ أَنَّ أَبَا الطُّفَيْلِ أَخْبَرَهُ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْسِمُ لَحْمًا بِالْجِعِرَّانَةِ قَالَ أَبُو الطُّفَيْلِ وَأَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ غُلاَمٌ أَحْمِلُ عَظْمَ الْجَزُورِ إِذْ أَقْبَلَتِ امْرَأَةٌ حَتَّى دَنَتْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَبَسَطَ لَهَا رِدَاءَهُ فَجَلَسَتْ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هِيَ فَقَالُوا هَذِهِ أُمُّهُ الَّتِي أَرْضَعَتْهُ
Regarding honoring one's parents
Narrated Umar ibn as-Sa'ib:
One day when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was sitting, his foster-father came forward. He spread out of a part of his garment and he sit on it. Then his mother came forward to him and he spread out the other side of his garment and she sat on it. Again , his foster-brother came forward. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood for him and seated him before himself.
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ السَّائِبِ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّهُ بَلَغَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ جَالِسًا يَوْمًا فَأَقْبَلَ أَبُوهُ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ فَوَضَعَ لَهُ بَعْضَ ثَوْبِهِ فَقَعَدَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَتْ أُمُّهُ فَوَضَعَ لَهَا شِقَّ ثَوْبِهِ مِنْ جَانِبِهِ الآخَرِ فَجَلَسَتْ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ أَخُوهُ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ فَقَامَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَجْلَسَهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ
The virtue of one who takes care of an orphan
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone has a female child, and does not bury her alive, or slight her, or prefer his children (i.e. the male ones) to her, Allah will bring him into Paradise. Uthman did not mention "male children".
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ ابْنَا أَبِي شَيْبَةَ الْمَعْنَى قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ الأَشْجَعِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ حُدَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ أُنْثَى فَلَمْ يَئِدْهَا وَلَمْ يُهِنْهَا وَلَمْ يُؤْثِرْ وَلَدَهُ عَلَيْهَا قَالَ يَعْنِي الذُّكُورَ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ عُثْمَانُ يَعْنِي الذُّكُورَ
The virtue of one who takes care of an orphan
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone cares for three daughters, disciplines them, marries them, and does good to them, he will go to Paradise.
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ حَدَّثَنَا سُهَيْلٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي صَالِحٍ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الأَعْشَى قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَهُوَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ مُكْمِلٍ الزُّهْرِيُّ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَنْ عَالَ ثَلاَثَ بَنَاتٍ فَأَدَّبَهُنَّ وَزَوَّجَهُنَّ وَأَحْسَنَ إِلَيْهِنَّ فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ
The virtue of one who takes care of an orphan
The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Suhail through a different chain of narrators to the same effect. This version has : “three sisters, or three daughter, or two daughter, or two sisters”.
حَدَّثَنَا يُوسُفُ بْنُ مُوسَى حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ بِمَعْنَاهُ قَالَ ثَلاَثُ أَخَوَاتٍ أَوْ ثَلاَثُ بَنَاتٍ أَوْ بِنْتَانِ أَوْ أُخْتَانِ
The virtue of one who takes care of an orphan
Narrated Awf ibn Malik al-Ashja'i':
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: I and a woman whose cheeks have become black shall on the Day of Resurrection be like these two (pointing to the middle and forefinger), i.e. a woman of rank and beauty who has been bereft of her husband and devotes herself to her fatherless children till they go their separate ways or die.
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ حَدَّثَنَا النَّهَّاسُ بْنُ قَهْمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي شَدَّادٌ أَبُو عَمَّارٍ عَنْ عَوْفِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ الأَشْجَعِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَا وَامْرَأَةٌ سَفْعَاءُ الْخَدَّيْنِ كَهَاتَيْنِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَأَوْمَأَ يَزِيدُ بِالْوُسْطَى وَالسَّبَّابَةِ امْرَأَةٌ آمَتْ مِنْ زَوْجِهَا ذَاتُ مَنْصِبٍ وَجَمَالٍ حَبَسَتْ نَفْسَهَا عَلَى يَتَامَاهَا حَتَّى بَانُوا أَوْ مَاتُوا
One who takes care of an orphan
Sahl (b. Sa’d) reported the prophet (May peace be upon him) as saying; I and the one who takes the responsibility of an orphan will be in Paradise thus, and he joined his middle finger and forefinger.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ بْنِ سُفْيَانَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي حَازِمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ سَهْلٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ أَنَا وَكَافِلُ الْيَتِيمِ كَهَاتَيْنِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَقَرَنَ بَيْنَ أُصْبُعَيْهِ الْوُسْطَى وَالَّتِي تَلِي الإِبْهَامَ
The rights of neighbors
‘A’ishah reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying: Gabriel kept on commending the neighbor to me so that I thought he would make him an heir.
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَمْرَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رضى الله عنها أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ مَا زَالَ جِبْرِيلُ يُوصِينِي بِالْجَارِ حَتَّى قُلْتُ لَيُوَرِّثَنَّهُ
The rights of neighbors
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:
Mujahid said that Abdullah ibn Amr slaughtered a sheep and said: Have you presented a gift from it to my neighbour, the Jew, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: Gabriel kept on commending the neighbour to me so that I thought he would make an heir?
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنْ بَشِيرٍ أَبِي إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو أَنَّهُ ذَبَحَ شَاةً فَقَالَ أَهْدَيْتُمْ لِجَارِي الْيَهُودِيِّ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ مَا زَالَ جِبْرِيلُ يُوصِينِي بِالْجَارِ حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُوَرِّثُهُ