It is reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“The most beloved of people according to Allaah is he who brings the most benefit, and the most beloved of deeds according to Allaah the Mighty, the Magnificent, is that you bring happiness to a fellow Muslim, or relieve him of distress, or pay off his debt or stave away hunger from him. It is more beloved to me that I walk with my brother Muslim in his time of need than I stay secluded in the mosque for a month. Whoever holds back his anger, Allaah will cover his faults and whoever suppresses his fury while being able to execute it, Allaah will fill his heart with satisfaction on the Day of Standing and whoever walks with his Muslim brother in need and fulfills his need, Allaah will establish his feet firmly on the day when all feet shall slip. Indeed, bad character ruins deeds just as vinegar ruins honey.”
This hadith was narrated by Ibn Abi ad-Dunya in Qadha’ al-Hawa’ij (36), at-Tabarani in al-Mu’jam al-Kabir (3/209) and in Al-Mu’jam Al-Awsat (6026), from the words of Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both.
Sheikh al-Albani called the hadith good. See Sahih al-Jami ‘as-saghir (176), al-Silsilah al-sahiha (906).
Grade: حسن
Note: Bakr bin Khunees, one of the narrators is very weak, and is the view of the majority of scholars. Al-Dhahabi, may God have mercy on him, said: Bakr bin Khunis al-Kufi, is insignifiant Al-Daraqutni said: Matrook (Rejected). Al-Nasa’i and Abu Dawood said: He is weak and nothing.
The last part of the hadith is also troublesome. As a matter of fact honey and vinegar is mixed to make a beneficial drink for those suffering from jaundice. Ibn al-Qayyim has recommended this see (Zaad al-Ma’aad, 4/224, 225).
أحب الناس إلى الله أنفعهم, وأحب الأعمال إلى الله عز وجل سرور تدخله على مسلم أو تكشف عنه كربة أو تقضي عنه دينا أو تطرد عنه جوعا, ولأن أمشي مع أخي المسلم في حاجة أحب إلي من أن أعتكف في المسجد شهرا, ومن كف غضبه ستر الله عورته, ومن كظم غيظا ولو شاء أن يمضيه أمضاه ملأ الله قلبه رضا يوم القيامة, ومن مشى مع أخيه المسلم في حاجته حتى يثبتها له أثبت الله تعالى قدمه يوم تزل الأقدام, وإن سوء الخلق ليفسد العمل كما يفسد الخل العسل
حسن … [ابن أبي الدنيا في قضاء الحوائج ط] عن ابن عمر. الصحيحة 906
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