Al-Adab Al-Mufrad: The Elderly
163
Chapter: The excellence of the older person
Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Anyone who does not show mercy to our children nor acknowledge the right of our old people is not one of us."
Reference | : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 353 |
In-book reference | : Book 18, Hadith 1 |
English translation | : Book 18, Hadith 353 |
'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As reported that it reached him that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Anyone who does not show mercy to our children nor acknowledge the right of our old people is not one of us."
Reference | : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 354 |
In-book reference | : Book 18, Hadith 2 |
English translation | : Book 18, Hadith 354 |
The same from 'Amr ibn Shu'ayb.
Reference | : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 355 |
In-book reference | : Book 18, Hadith 3 |
English translation | : Book 18, Hadith 355 |
The same from Abu Umama.
Reference | : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 356 |
In-book reference | : Book 18, Hadith 4 |
English translation | : Book 18, Hadith 356 |
164
Chapter: Respect for the Old
Al-Ash'ari said, "Part of respect for Allah is to show respect to an old Muslim and to someone who knows the Qur'an, as long as he does not go to excess in it nor turn away from it, and to respect a just ruler."
Reference | : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 357 |
In-book reference | : Book 18, Hadith 5 |
English translation | : Book 18, Hadith 357 |
Same as 354.
Reference | : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 358 |
In-book reference | : Book 18, Hadith 6 |
English translation | : Book 18, Hadith 358 |
165
Chapter: The old person should be the first to speak and ask
Rafi' ibn Khudayj and Sahl ibn Abi Hathama reported that 'Abdullah ibn Sahl and Muhayyisa ibn Mas'ud came to Khaybar and parted when they were among the palm trees. 'Abdullah ibn Sahl was murdered. 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn Sahl and Huwayyisa and Muhayyisa, the sons of Mas'ud came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and spoke to him about their (murdered) companion. 'Abdu'r-Rahman, the youngest of those present, began to speak, but the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Let the oldest speak first." (or "Exalt the eldest.") They spoke about their companion and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked, "Will fifty of you take an oath that you are entitled to the blood-money of your murdered man?" They replied, "Messenger of Allah, this is something which we did not see." He said, "Then will the Jews exonerate themselves by the oaths of fifty of them?" They protested, "Messenger of Allah, they are unbelievers!" So the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, himself paid his blood money."
Reference | : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 359 |
In-book reference | : Book 18, Hadith 7 |
English translation | : Book 18, Hadith 359 |
166
Chapter: When an older person does not speak, can the youngest speak then?
Ibn 'Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Tell me which tree is like the Muslim? It gives fruits at all times by the permission of its Lord and its leaves do not fall.' It occurred to me that it was the palm tree, but I did not want to speak as Abu Bakr and 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, were both present. When they did not speak, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'It is the palm tree.' When I left with my father, I said, 'Father, I thought that it was the palm,.' He asked, 'What kept you from saying that? If you had said so, I would have preferred that to such-and-such.' I said, 'What kept me from doing so was that I did not see you or Abu Bakr speak, so I did not like to speak out.'"
Reference | : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 360 |
In-book reference | : Book 18, Hadith 8 |
English translation | : Book 18, Hadith 360 |
167
Chapter: Making the old leaders
Hakim ibn Qays ibn 'Asim reported that when his father was dying, he enjoined his sons:
"Fear Allah and make the oldest among you your leaders. When people make the oldest among them their leaders, they follow their fathers. When they make the youngest among them their leaders, that lowers them in the sight of their peers. You must have wealth and use it well. It is an impetus for the generous and it will make you independent of critics. Beware of asking people. It is a man's last source of earning. When I die, do not wail. There was no wailing for the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When I die, bury me in a land where the Bakr ibn Wa'il will not know where I am buried. I used to waylay on the roads in the time of the Jahiliyya."
Reference | : Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 361 |
In-book reference | : Book 18, Hadith 9 |
English translation | : Book 18, Hadith 361 |