Sunan Abī Dāwūd Ḥadīth [4943]

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 Ḥajar al-‘Asqalānī 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)]

(1) 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.
(2) 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.” (aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah lil-Albānī 1205 (3/203-208))
(3) “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)]

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)]

• Sunan at-Tirmidhī (1920)
• Musnad Aḥmad (7073 (11/644-645)) ^{[Shu’ayb al-Arna’ūṭ]}
• Musnad Aḥmad (7073 (6/485)) ^{[Aḥmad Shākir]}
• Ṣaḥīḥ at-Targhīb (100 (1/152))
• Muṣannaf ibn Abī Shaybah (27000 (14/135))
• Shu’ab al-Īmān (10471 (13/352-353))
• Al-Mustadrak ‘alā aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥayn (210 (1/329))
• Kanzul ‘Ummāl (5970 (3/163))
• Kanzul ‘Ummāl (5987 (3/164))
• Al-Adab al-Mufrad (354 (1/125))
• Riyāḍuṣ Ṣāliḥīn (355)
• Al-Jāmi’ aṣ-Ṣaghīr [Suyūṭī] (7692 (1/470))
• Al-Jāmi’ aṣ-Ṣaghīr [Suyūṭī] (9026 (1/543))
• Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’ (5444 (2/957))
• Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’ (6540 (2/1114))
• Silsilah Aḥādīth aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah (2196 (5/230-231)) – on the authority of Anas bin Mālik and others.

It is also reported by ibn Abbās, Abī Hurayrah, Anas bin Mālik, Jābir bin ‘Abdullāh, Abī Umāmah, ‘Ubādah bin Ṣāmit, and others. (may Allāh be pleased with them all) with different grades of authenticity.

Grade:

• Ṣaḥīḥ by Shaykh al-Albānī (Sunan Abī Dawūd, Sunan at-Tirmidhī, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi & Ṣaḥīḥ at-Targhīb)
• Ṣaḥīḥ by Imām as-Suyūṭī (Al-Jāmi’ aṣ-Ṣaghīr)
• Ṣaḥīḥ isnād by Shaykh Aḥmad Shākir (Musnad Aḥmad)
• Ṣaḥīḥ isnād by Shaykh Shu’ayb al-Arna’ūṭ (Sunan Abī Dāwūd & Musnad Aḥmad)
• Ḥasan by Ḥāfiẓ Zubayr ʿAlī Za’ī (Sunan Abī Dāwūd & Sunan at-Tirmidhī)