The Hadith

Abu Sa‘id Sa‘d ibn Malik ibn Sinan al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah said:

“There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.”  

Reference

Reported by Ibn Majah, ad-Daraqutni, and others, and by Malik in the Muwatta in mursal form, and it is a hasan hadith with chains that strengthen one another.

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Explanation (From Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan)

In this hadith the Prophet established an important principle regarding harm and wrongdoing.  

The statement:

“There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm”

means that a person should not cause harm to others.  

Likewise, a person should not respond to harm with another form of harm that goes beyond what is permitted.  

This principle applies to interactions between people and establishes that harm and injustice are not allowed.  

This hadith therefore establishes a general rule that a Muslim must not cause harm, neither first nor in retaliation.

References

The Explanation of Imam an-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith: Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan. Dar Makkah International.

Verified on 2026-10-21 against: The Explanation of Imam an-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith (Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan), Hadith 32.