ar-Rafeeq (The Gentle One)
On the authority of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), a group of Jews came to the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) and said, “As-saam ‘alaykum (Death be upon you).” ‘Aa’ishah responded by saying, “Rather, death and curses be upon you!” So the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:
“O ‘Aa’ishah! Verily, Allaah, is Rafeeq, and He loves gentleness in all affairs.”
Then she said, “But didn’t you hear what they were saying?” He (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:
“I replied: and to you (likewise).”
Collected by al-Bukhaaree (6927) and Muslim (2165)
Reference:
Exemplary principles concerning the beautiful names of Allaah.
Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-‘Uthaymeen D. 1421 H
Translated by Moosaa Richardson
Revised 2nd Edition with additional commentary.
Narrated `Aisha:
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ الْيَهُودُ يُسَلِّمُونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُونَ السَّامُ عَلَيْكَ. فَفَطِنَتْ عَائِشَةُ إِلَى قَوْلِهِمْ فَقَالَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّامُ وَاللَّعْنَةُ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” مَهْلاً يَا عَائِشَةُ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الرِّفْقَ فِي الأَمْرِ كُلِّهِ ”. فَقَالَتْ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ أَوَلَمْ تَسْمَعْ مَا يَقُولُونَ قَالَ ” أَوَلَمْ تَسْمَعِي أَنِّي أَرُدُّ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَأَقُولُ وَعَلَيْكُمْ ”.
In-book reference: Book 80, Hadith 90
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 8, Book 75, Hadith 404
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