54. The Book of Zuhd and Softening of Hearts
٥٤۔ كتاب الزهد والرقائق
A man praised another man in front of the Prophet ﷺ . The Prophet ﷺ said to him, "Woe to you, you have cut off your companion's neck, you have cut off your companion's neck," repeating it several times and then added, "Whoever amongst you has to praise his brother should say, 'I think that he is so and so, and Allah knows exactly the truth, and I do not confirm anybody's good conduct before Allah, but I think him so and so,' if he really knows what he says about him."
أَثْنَى رَجُلٌ عَلَى رَجُلٍ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ وَيْلَكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ قَطَعْتَ عُنُقَ صَاحِبِكَ مِرَارًا ثُمَّ قَالَ مَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَادِحًا أَخَاهُ لَا مَحَالَةَ فَلْيَقُلْ أَحْسِبُ فُلَانًا وَاللَّهُ حَسِيبُهُ وَلَا أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللَّهِ أَحَدًا أَحْسِبُهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا إِنْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ
The Prophet ﷺ heard someone praising another and exaggerating in his praise. The Prophet ﷺ said, "You have ruined or cut the man's back (by praising him so much).
سَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ رَجُلاً يُثْنِي عَلَى رَجُلٍ وَيُطْرِيهِ فِي مَدْحِهِ فَقَالَ أَهْلَكْتُمْ أَوْ قَطَعْتُمْ ظَهْرَ الرَّجُلِ