- “Only Allah guides to the best character, and only He turns one away from its worst.”
ʿAbd al-Razzāq narrated it in al-Muṣannaf (11/146/20156), from Ṭāwūs, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said while on the pulpit: “…,” and he mentioned it.
I say: Its chain of transmission is authentic as a mursal report. Al-Ṭabarānī connected its chain in al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr (11/17/10896), through Shāhīn ibn Ḥayyān: Ḥammād ibn Salamah related to us, from ʿAmr ibn Dīnār, from Ṭāwūs, from Ibn ʿAbbās, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said in his sermon: “…,” and he mentioned it. Concerning this Shāhīn, Abū Ḥātim said: “He is weak in hadith.” Ibn Ḥibbān listed him among the trustworthy narrators.
… However, the hadith has a strong supporting report from ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him, concerning the Prophet’s opening invocation of the prayer, which includes the words:
“O Allah, guide me to the best character; none guides to the best of it except You. Turn its evil away from me; none turns its evil away from me except You.”
It was recorded by Aḥmad (1/102), Muslim and Abū ʿAwānah in their respective Ṣaḥīḥs, al-Tirmidhī—who declared it authentic—and others. It is referenced in Ṣaḥīḥ Sunan Abī Dāwūd (no. 738).
It also has a supporting report from Jābir, with the wording:
“O Allah, guide me to the best deeds and the best character; none guides to the best of them except You. Protect me from evil deeds and evil character; none can protect against their evil except You.”
Al-Nasāʾī and others narrated it with an authentic chain of transmission. It is referenced in the preceding source under no. 739.