Riyad as-Salihin, 950

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Some Companions happened to pass by a funeral procession (bier) and they praised him (the deceased). The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He will certainly enter it." Then they passed by another funeral procession and they spoke ill of the deceased. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He will certainly enter it." `Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) said: "(O Messenger of Allah,) what do you mean by `He will certainly enter it?'' He (ﷺ) replied, "You praised the first person, so he will enter Jannah; and you spoke ill of the second person, so he will enter Hell. You are Allah's witnesses on earth." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

- عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ مروا بجنازة، فأثنوا عليها خيراً، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلمى الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏"‏وجبت”، ثم مروا بأخرى، فأثنوا عليها شراً، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلمى الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلم الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏"‏وجبت‏"‏ فقال عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه‏:‏ ما وجبت‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏هذا أثنيتم عليه خيراً، فوجبت له الجنة، وهذا أثنيتم عليه شراً فوجبت عليه النار، أنتم شهداء الله في الأرض” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Book 6, Hadith 57

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadiths: 1) The believers are Allah’s witnesses on earth. So, if they praise a person, Paradise becomes certain for him; and if they speak ill of him, Hellfire becomes certain for him. 2) According to the belief of Ahl-us-Sunnah, we should not confirm that anyone will enter Paradise or Hellfire, unless this is established by certain proofs, like in the case of the ten Companions given glad tidings that they would enter Paradise, as well as Abu Lahab who was given tidings that he would enter Hellfire. But when Muslims speak well of someone, this is a good sign and it is hoped he would enter Paradise, without decisively saying that he would.

Related hadiths1

Sahih al-Bukhari1367sahih