Sunan Abī Dāwūd Ḥadīth [4943] – Mercy to the young and respect to the elders
4 December 2020 · 19 Rabīʿ II 1442 AH
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَابْنُ السَّرْحِ، قَالَا : حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَامِرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللّٰهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، – يَرْوِيهِ قَالَ: ابْنُ السَّرْحِ – عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: >مَنْ لَمْ يَرْحَمْ صَغِيرَنَا، وَيَعْرِفْ حَقَّ كَبِيرِنَا فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا<
Reference
Book [43]: Book of general behavior (Kitāb al-adab)
Chapter [66]: About mercy
Translation
Ḥadīth [4943]: It is narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullāh bin ‘Amr bin al-‘Āṣ [d. 65H] (may Allāh be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said: “Those who do not show mercy to our young ones and do not realize the right of our elders are not from us.”
Grading
Commentary
Commentary by Dakwah Corner Publications (Al-Adab al-Mufrad)
Children due to their young ages may show lack of knowledge and say a thing or perform an action which will be considered by the adult as irritatingly silly or time-wasting; and so, the adult should mercy to them by teaching them and guiding them with gentleness and affection. As for the elderly, they have spent many years on the earth and have thereby acquired a wide-range of experience; thus, they deserve to be shown honor and high regard.
With respect to the expression: “… is not one of us …” Ḥāfiẓ ibn Ḥajr al-‘Asqalānī [d. 852H] (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: ‘That is, from those upon our lines of conduct and path; it does not mean his been disconnected from the religion. However, it is mentioned with this wording to emphasize the seriousness of falling into a thing like that…’
• Reference: [353 (1/238), Al-Adab al-Mufrad, Dakwah Corner Publications (Eng)]
Commentary by Shaykh 'Uthmān Munīb (Al-Adab al-Mufrad)
❶ Children are innocent and free from evil. They do not harbor hatred or ill will, so they deserve mercy and compassion. They should be taught manners through education and nurturing. One should do so with gentleness and forbearance.
❷ It is the right of the elders toward the younger ones that the younger ones respect them because of their age. In the same way, respect should be paid to those who possess knowledge. This is also made clear in another ḥadīth (Musnad Aḥmad). It is also necessary to respect a respected person of a family or tribe, even if he is younger. “If a respected member of a tribe comes to you, respect him.” [Silsilah Aḥādīth aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah (1205 (3/203-208))]
❸ “He is not of us” does not mean that he is excluded from Islām, rather it is meant as a rebuke. If someone despises this ḥadīth and therefore violates it, it is not far-fetched for Allāh – the Most High – to exclude him from Islām as punishment for this crime.
• Reference: [353 (1/366), Al-Adab al-Mufrad, Ansarus Sunnah Publications, Lahore (Ur)]
Translated by ‘Imrān (Germany)
Commentary by Ḥāfiẓ Ṣalāḥuddīn Yūsuf (may Allāh have mercy upon him)
The words, “He is not one of us” here mean that he is not following the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him). To show compassion to youngsters means showing kindness and generosity to them. On the same principle, it is essential for the young that they respect the elders, the learned and the pious.
• Reference: [355 (327/1), Riyāḍuṣ Ṣāliḥīn, Dārussalām (Eng)]
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It is also reported by ibn ‘Abbās [d. 65H], Abū Hurayrah [d. 57H], Anas bin Mālik [d. 90H], Jābir bin ‘Abdullāh [d. after 70H], Abū Umāmah [d. 86H], ‘Ubādah bin Ṣāmit [d. 34H], and others (may Allāh be pleased with them all) with different grades of authenticity.