Don't Praise People Too Much—So What Should You Do? Always Remember the Prophet Muhammad's Message

Jakarta — It is common to hear people showering praise on others, sometimes to an excessive degree. It turns out that excessive praise is not considered good in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) specifically warned about the danger of excessive compliments.

Hadith (narrated by Yahya ibn Yahya from Yazid ibn Zurai’ from Khalid al-Hazza’ from Abdurrahman ibn Abi Bakrah, from his father) states: ‘A man praised another in the Prophet’s presence, and the Prophet warned, “Woe to you! You have cut the neck of your companion.” He repeated it several times. If one of you praises his companion—this is not impossible—let him say: ’I think so-and-so, and Allah is the One who will judge him; I do not purify anyone above Allah; I think he, if he knew, would say this and that.”’ (Hadith cited in Muslim.)

Imam an-Nawawi, in Fath al-Bari fi Syarh ash-Shahih al-Bukhari, quotes Ibn Bathal to explain: ‘The essence of the prohibition is that whoever overpraises another for things they do not actually possess will not be immune to arrogance, for they may believe they truly occupy that rank. As a result, they may neglect good works and opportunities for further good by overrelying on the praise received.’