Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe, and the believer is the one who is trusted with the lives and wealth of the people.”
Source: Sunan An-Nasa’i 4998
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ النَّاسُ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُ مَنْ أَمِنَهُ النَّاسُ عَلَى دِمَائِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ
It is narrated that the Prophet (sws) said: “A true muslim is one from [the transgressions of] whose tongue1 and hands, all other Muslims are safe; And a true mu’min is one from whom people’s lives and wealth are secured; And a true mujāhid is one, who subdues his inner self and forces it into God’s obedience; And a true muhājir is one, who leaves everything that God has disapproved. By Him, Who controls my life in His hand, no such person shall enter Paradise, whose neighbour was not safe from his transgressions2.”
Notes on the Text of the Narrative
In some narratives, as for instance in Bukhārī (No. 11), the Prophet (sws) said these words when he was asked: أي الإسلام أفضل؟ (what kind of Islam is the best?), while according to Muslim (No. 40), the Prophet (sws) said these words in response to the question: أي المسلمين خير؟ (who is the best among Muslims?). In yet another reporting, it is reported that the Prophet (sws) actually said: أسلم المسلمين إسلاما(the Muslim, who is complete in his acceptance of Islam). According to some of the narratives in Ahmad Ibn Hambal (Nos. 24004, 24013 etc.), the Prophet (sws) said these words during the address of the last hajj. Keeping the nature of the reported saying in mind, it is quite understandable that the Prophet (sws) may have said these words on different occasions to remind Muslims of one of their primary responsibilities towards their fellow Muslims, in particular, and their fellow human beings, in general.
In some narratives, as for instance in Ahmad Ibn Hambal (No. 6753), the word المسلمون (other Muslims) has been replaced by الناس (other people).
In some narratives, as for instance in Ahmad Ibn Hambal (No. 6925), the word الناس (people) has been replaced by المؤمنون (believers).
The sentence والمؤمن من أمنه الناس على دمائهم وأموالهم (and a true mu’min is one from whom people’s lives and wealth are secured) is reported in Tirmidhī (No. 2627).
The sentence والمجاهد من جاهد نفسه في طاعة الله (and a true mujāhid is one who subdues his inner self and forces it into God’s obedience) is reported in Ahmad Ibn Hambal (No. 24004).
In some narratives, as, for instance, Bukhārī (No. 11) or Muslim (No. 41), the words: المهاجر من هجر ما نهى الله عنه (a true muhājir is one, who leaves everything that God has disapproved) have been omitted. While in some narratives, as for instance Ibn Hibbān, narrative no. 196 these words have been replaced by المهاجر من هجر السيئات (a true muhājir is one, who leaves bad deeds).
The last part of the text, starting from والذي نفسي بيده till the end is reported in
hmad Ibn Hambal, narrative no. 12583.
