876 — “The weightiest thing on the Scale is good character.”

It was recorded by Abu Dawud (2/389), Ahmad (6/446, 448), al-Ghatreef in his Hadith (no. 89 in my manuscript), and al-Khara’iti in Noble Character (p. 9), through Shu‘bah, from al-Qasim ibn Abi Bazzah, from ‘Ata al-Kaykharani, from Umm al-Darda, from Abu al-Darda, who related that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said this. The wording is that of al-Ghatreef, while the wording of the others is: “Nothing weighs heavier on the Scale than good character.”

I say: This is an authentic chain of transmission, and Ibn Hibban also declared it authentic (1921). Al-Hasan ibn Muslim corroborated him, reporting from his maternal uncle, ‘Ata ibn Nafi‘, with al-Ghatreef’s wording. In another version, it reads: “Indeed, the best thing on the Scale on the Day of Resurrection is good character.” Ahmad recorded it (6/442), and its chain is likewise authentic.

Qabisah ibn al-Layth also corroborated him, reporting from Mutarrif, from ‘Ata, with the same wording as al-Ghatreef’s report in Abu Dawud and Ahmad, adding: “Indeed, through good character, a person attains the rank of one devoted to fasting and prayer.” Al-Tirmidhi recorded it (3/146) and said: “A singular hadith through this route.”

I say: Its chain is sound. Ya‘la ibn Mamlak also corroborated him, reporting from Umm al-Darda with a more complete wording: “Whoever is granted his share of gentleness is granted his share of goodness, and nothing is heavier …” The hadith.