No slave covers another slave in this world except that Allah would cover him on the Day of Judgment
Narrator in the source: Abu Hurayrah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah say:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No slave covers another slave in this world except that Allah would cover him on the Day of Judgment."- Grade in the source
- Authentic
- Reported by
- Narrated by Muslim
- Source entry
- HadeethEnc · 3777 ↗
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا يَسْتُرُ عَبْدٌ عَبْدًا فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا سَتَرَهُ اللهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ».Understand this hadith
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarifies that no Muslim covers his fellow Muslim in any matter except that Allah Almighty would cover him on the Day of Judgment, as every deed has a recompense that suits it. Allah's covering for him would be by covering his faults and sins without disclosing them to the people gathered on Judgement Day, or it could be by not holding him accountable for them and not mentioning them to him.
Lessons from the hadith
- It is legitimate to cover a Muslim if he sins, along with expressing disapproval, offering him advice, and threatening him with Allah. However, if he is from the evildoers and from the corrupt who commit sins and acts of defiant disobedience openly, then he should not be covered, for this would encourage him to commit more sins. Therefore, his case should be referred to the ruler, even if he is to be mentioned, because he is known for his defiant disobedience and sinning.
- Urging the act of covering others' faults.
- The benefits of covering include: giving the sinner the chance to reconsider his actions and repent to Allah because publicizing defects and faults is from spreading immorality and it spoils the social atmosphere besides tempting people to commit them.
References (original Arabic)
صحيح مسلم (4/ 2002) (2590). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 329). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (1/ 255). كنوز رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (4/ 533). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (3/ 14).