Question
Please can you mention the entire narration which is answered here
Sayyiduna Jabir ibn Sulaym (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “…If any person reviles or insults you for something which he finds in you then do not insult him with what you know of him, for he will bear the evil consequences of it.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4081 and Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith: 521)
Answer
The full narration as recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud is as follows:
Sayyiduna Abu Jurayy Jabir ibn Sulaym (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “I saw a man whose opinion was accepted by the people and he did not utter anything except that they submitted to it. I asked, ‘Who is this?’ They replied, ‘[He is] the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.’ He says, ‘I said: ‘alaykas salamu O Messenger of Allah twice.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Do not say ‘alaykas salam’ for ‘alaykas salam’ is a greeting for the dead. Rather, say, ‘As salamu ‘alayka.’
I then asked: ‘Are you the Messenger of Allah?’ He replied, ‘I am the Messenger of Allah, [Allah is the one] whom when harm befalls you and you call unto Him, he removes it. When you suffer drought and call unto Him, He causes vegetation to grow and when you are at a deserted land or plain and your conveyance gets lost and you call unto Him, he returns it to you.’
I then said, ‘Advise me.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Do not swear anyone.’ Abu Jurayy (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says, ‘After that, I never swore a free person, a slave, a camel nor a sheep.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) then said, ‘Do not look down upon any good and when you speak to your brother, do so with a cheerful face for this is regarded to be from the good [deeds]. Raise your lower garment to your mid shin. If you cannot, then have it up to the ankles. Abstain from lowering the lower garment [below your ankle], for it is pride and Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla does not like pride. If any person reviles or insults you for something which he finds in you then do not insult him with what you know of him, for he will bear the evil consequences of it.'”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4081)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar