Question

Please provide the reference for the following Hadith and confirm if authentic or not:

“Do you know what is better than charity, fasting and prayer? It is keeping peace and good relations between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind.”

(Muslim and Bukhari)

Answer

I have not come across these words in Sahih Bukhari or Sahih Muslim.

Imam Bukhari has recorded the following Hadith in his Al Adabul Mufrad:

Sayyiduna Abud Darda (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Should I not tell you something that is better than [voluntary/optional] fasting, Salah and charity?’ They [The Sahabah] said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Reconciling and making peace between people, for spoiling relations is the shaver [destroys Din and good].”

(Al Adabul Mufrad, Hadith: 391, Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2509, Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4883, Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 5092)

Imam Tirmidhi and Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahumallah) have declared the Hadith authentic.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar