“A man asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, ‘What is sin?’ He replied: ‘Whatever unsettles—or causes unease in—your breast, leave it.’”

Ibn al-Mubarak narrated it (825) with an authentic chain of transmission, as did others, as previously mentioned under no. 550.

2231 — “O Abu Bakr! There are three things, all of which are true: No servant is wronged, then overlooks the wrong for Allah’s sake, except that Allah thereby strengthens him with victory. No man opens a door of giving, seeking thereby to maintain ties, except that Allah increases him in abundance. And no man opens a door of asking, seeking thereby to increase his wealth, except that Allah increases him in poverty.”

Ahmad (2/436) narrated it from Ibn ʿAjlan, who said: Saʿid ibn Abi Saʿid narrated to us from Abu Hurayrah that a man insulted Abu Bakr while the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was seated. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, began to marvel and smile. But when the man persisted, Abu Bakr answered some of what he said. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, then became angry and rose. Abu Bakr caught up with him and said: “O Messenger of Allah, he was insulting me while you remained seated; but when I answered some of what he said, you became angry and rose.” He replied: “An angel was with you, answering on your behalf. But when you answered some of what he said, Satan intervened, and I would not remain seated with Satan.” Then he said the words cited above.

I say: Its chain of transmission is sound. In Majmaʿ al-Zawaʾid (8/190), it is said: “Ahmad and al-Tabarani in al-Awsat narrated it in similar wording, and Ahmad’s narrators are the narrators of the Ṣaḥīḥ.” That is what he said; however, al-Bukhari only cited Ibn ʿAjlan in a suspended report, and Muslim cited him merely as corroboration. The final sentence of the hadith has another chain from al-ʿAlaʾ ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah. Ahmad narrated it (2/418).