Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.

The best in Islam are those with the best character

ahmad:10066ʿAbd al-Raḥman > Ḥammād b. Salamah > Muḥammad b. Ziyād > Abū Hurayrah > Abū al-Qāsim ﷺ

I heard Abū al-Qāsim (the Prophet) ﷺ say, "The best of you in Islam are those with the best character, if they have a good ˹religious˺ understanding."  

أحمد:١٠٠٦٦حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ؛ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ؛ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ قَالَ؛ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «خَيْرُكُمْ إِسْلَامًا أَحَاسِنُكُمْ أَخْلَاقًا إِذَا فَقِهُوا۔»  


See similar narrations below:

Collected by Aḥmad, Ibn Ḥibbān, Suyūṭī
ahmad:10022ʿAbd al-Raḥman > Ḥammād > Muḥammad b. Ziyād > Abū Hurayrah > Abū al-Qāsim

I heard Abū al-Qāsim (the Prophet) ﷺ say, "The best of you in Islam are those with the best character, if they have a good ˹religious˺ understanding." (Using translation from Aḥmad 10066)  

أحمد:١٠٠٢٢حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ يَقُولُ خِيَارُكُمْ أَحَاسِنُكُمْ أَخْلَاقًا إِذَا فَقِهُوا  

ahmad:10295ʿAbd al-Raḥman > Ḥammād > ʿAmmār > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best amongst you in the time of ignorance are the best amongst you in Islam if they understand."  

أحمد:١٠٢٩٥حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ عَنْ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خِيَارُكُمْ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ خِيَارُكُمْ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ إِذَا فَقِهُوا  

ahmad:10170Wakīʿ > ʿAlī b. Ṣāliḥ > Salamah b. Kuhayl > Abū Salamah > Abū Hurayrah

“The best of you - or among the best of you - are those who pay off their debts in the best manner.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 2423)   

أحمد:١٠١٧٠حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ صَالِحٍ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ عَنِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنِ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خِيَارُكُمْ أَحَاسِنُكُمْ قَضَاءً  

ahmad:10232Wakīʿ > Ḥammād b. Salamah > Muḥammad b. Ziyād > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] Regarding the Prophet ﷺ , he said, "The best among you in Islam are those who have the best character when they are knowledgeable."  

أحمد:١٠٢٣٢حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ خَيْرُكُمْ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ أَحَاسِنُكُمْ أَخْلَاقًا إِذَا فَقُهُوا  

ahmad:10240Wakīʿ > Ḥammād b. Salamah > Muḥammad b. Ziyād > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The best among you in Islam are those who have the best manners when they are knowledgeable."  

أحمد:١٠٢٤٠حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَيْرُكُمْ إِسْلَامًا أَحَاسِنُكُمْ أَخْلَاقًا إِذَا فَقُهُوا  

ذِكْرُ الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ مِنْ خِيَارِ النَّاسِ، مَنْ حَسُنَ خُلُقُهُ فِي فِقْهِهِ

ibnhibban:91ʿImrān b. Mūsá b. Mujāshiʿ > Hudbah b. Khālid al-Qaysī > Ḥammād b. Salamah > Muḥammad b. Ziyād > Abū Hurayrah > Abū al-Qāsim ﷺ

I heard Abū al-Qāsim (the Prophet) ﷺ say, "The best of you in Islam are those with the best character, if they have a good ˹religious˺ understanding." (Using translation from Aḥmad 10066)  

ابن حبّان:٩١أَخْبَرَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ مُوسَى بْنُ مُجَاشِعٍ حَدَّثَنَا هُدْبَةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الْقَيْسِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «خَيْرُكُمْ أَحَاسِنُكُمْ أَخْلَاقًا إِذَا فَقُهُوا»  

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السيوطي:١٣٨٢٩a

"خِيَارُكُم أحِاسِنُكُم أخْلَاقًا".  

[حم] أحمد [خ] البخاري [م] مسلم [ت] الترمذي [حب] ابن حبّان عن ابن عمرو، والخرائطى في مكارم الأخلاق، [خط] الخطيب عن ابن عباس