Crafty Plots, Cunning Deceptions

From Abū Hurairah, may Allāh be pleased with him, [who] said: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: “Believers are naive and generous, while wicked people are crafty and despicable.”¹

Shaikh Zaid ibn Muḥammad Al-Madkhalī, may Allāh protect him, said:

This ḥadīth shows the difference between believers and wicked people: believers possess generous, noble qualities, while wicked people have lowly, despicable traits.

Among the noble traits of the believer are being naive, having little awareness of the ways of evil, and refraining from seeking that out. This is not out of ignorance from him, but rather nobility, generosity, and good character.

On the other hand, the crafty, despicable, wicked person has blameworthy traits like trickery and deception, and spreading corruption on earth. His good is little; his evil, widespread. His outward appearance is at odds with what’s inside him.

So set out, O you who are accountable [with Allāh], in search of character traits that people of faith possess, in both word and deed. And continue always to have them as your own, for indeed, in having them is having a blessed and good life in this world, the grave, and the Hereafter.

And beware of the traits of the people of evil and corruption—stay far away from them, as far as possible, being careful not to fall into them and warning against them—because indeed, in having them, [as traits] there’s misery in this life and the next.

And finally: be open to the advice of sincere advisors who want good for you—love them, show gratitude for their good they’re doing, and appreciate their efforts. You will then attain goodness, earn reward, and Allāh will then take care of you in this life and the Hereafter.

¹Rated ṣaḥīḥ by Al-Albānī, Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, no. 418 (TR)

Source: ʿAwn Al-Aḥad Al-Ṣamad | Sharḥ Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, p. 461, as quoted by Shaikh Aḥmad Al-Zahrānī. x.com/AlahmadiZahrani. 23 Mar 25.