When Bakr (rahimahullaah) used to see an old man, he would say: ”This (person) is better than me. He worshipped Allaah before me.” And if he saw a youth, he would say: ”This (person) is better than me. I have committed more sins than he has committed.”
Wahb Ibn Kaysaan (rahimahullaah) narrated that Ibn Umar (radiyallaahu-anhu) saw a shepherd and some sheep in a filthy place, and he saw (another) place better than it. So he said to the shepherd: Woe to you, O shepherd! Move your sheep (to the better place); for indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) saying: ”Every shepherd is responsible for his flock.” [1]
Shaikh Zaid Bin Haadi (rahimahullaah) said: This hadeeth shows the obligation of kind treatment towards those under one’s care, whether a human being or cattle…. [2]
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[1] See Adabul Mufrad of Imaam Bukhaari. Number: 416
[2] Slightly paraphrased. For more benefits derived from this hadeeth, see ‘Awn Al-Ahadus Samad Sharh Adab Al-Mufrad of Shaikh Zayd (rahimahullaah) Vol 1 page: 459
Ali Ibnul Husayn Bin Ali Bin Abee Taalib (rahimahullaah) used to sit with Aslam the freed slave of Umar (radiyallaahu-anhu); so a man from Quraish said to him: “You leave Quraish and sit with a slave of the clan of Adiy?” So he said: “Indeed a man sits where he benefits”
Imaam Dhahabi (rahimahullaah) reported from Baqiyyah Ibn Al-Waleed (rahimahullaah) that Abdul Malik Bin Abee An-Nu’maan Al-Jazariy (rahimahullaah) said: Maymoon Bin Mehraan narrated to us, saying: A man argued with him about Ir’jaa, so whilst (speaking), they heard a woman singing. Maymoon then said: “Where is the Imaan of this one (i.e. the woman who was signing) compared to the Imaan of Maryam Bint Imraan?” So the man left and did not respond to him.
”There was no one amongst the people of hadeeth who (merely) defended his father, brother or son in the knowledge of hadeeth. Ali Bin Abdillaah Ibnil Madeenee was an Imaam of Hadeeth in his era, but not a single word has been seen from him in (declaring) his father a strong (or good) narrator; rather it is opposite that has been seen.”
Whenever Dahhaak Bin Muzaahim (rahimahullaah) reached the night, he used to weep; so he was asked, ”what makes you weep.” He said: ”I do not know which of my deeds have been raised today (i.e. accepted by Allaah)”