Sunan Abi Dawud 4888
Narrated Mu’awiyah: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: If you search for the faults of the people, you will corrupt them, or will nearly corrupt them. AbudDarda’ said: These are the words which Mu’awiyah himself from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and Allah benefited him by them.
- This hadith, narrated by Mu’awiyah and recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud, conveys the message that if a person constantly looks for faults in others and exposes them, it can have a corrupting or damaging effect on those individuals or society as a whole. It emphasizes the negative consequences of engaging in fault-finding behavior, which can lead to harm, division, and negativity among people. The statement of AbudDarda’ that Mu’awiyah benefited from these words of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) underscores the importance of refraining from seeking out and spreading the faults of others in order to maintain a healthy and harmonious social environment.
