Chapter: The Prohibition of Causing Harm

Allah the Exalted says: “Those who harm believing men and believing women for something they have not earned have surely burdened themselves with slander and a manifest sin.”

1565 – ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe, and the emigrant is the one who abandons what Allah has forbidden.” Agreed upon.

1566 – He also reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever would love to be kept away from the Fire and admitted into Paradise should have death come to him while he believes in Allah and the Last Day, and he should treat people in the way he would love to be treated by them.” Related by Muslim; it forms part of a longer narration cited earlier in the chapter on obedience to those in authority.

[Commentary]
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) titles this section in Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn: “The Chapter on the Prohibition of Inflicting Harm Without Right.” Harm encompasses three forms: harm by speech, harm by action, and harm by neglect. Harm by speech is to let one’s brother hear words that cause him pain, even if no tangible injury results; should the words actually injure him, the sin is all the more severe.