People do not have balance in praise or criticism, nor do they possess the knowledge or character to be qualified to judge others.

The Shaykh : The lesson from this report is twofold. First: People do not have balance in matters. In reality, I say this because I am affected by this report from Umm al-Darda' and others: I advise the brothers that whenever you hear speech about a person, do not take it at face value; you must assume that there is exaggeration. Whenever you hear praise of a person, you must assume that there is exaggeration. In other words, the news is not exactly as it is; there is some addition, and the same applies in reverse. Whenever you hear criticism of a person, do not assume it is exactly as it is; there is exaggeration. So, whether in praise or criticism, it may have a basis, but it is not as the people are exaggerating, whether in praise or in criticism. Or it may have no basis at all; this is also possible. But if we assume that a man is truly righteous, and people talk about his righteousness, there is no doubt that there is exaggeration. If it is said that he is a scholar and he is truly a scholar, and people praise him, there is no doubt that there is exaggeration. And the reverse is exactly the same. Why do I say this? First, reality bears witness that people do not have balance, neither in praise nor in criticism. Second: People have not been given knowledge, nor have they been given character, such that if knowledge and character were present in the one who speaks in praise or criticism, he would not say anything but the truth. This is very rare, and the rare has no ruling; one does not derive benefit from this report. The second benefit is, in reality, a very important moral and educational benefit: if one of us hears criticism of himself from some of his friends or enemies, he should not get angry or be upset. Let him remember this wisdom and say: "People talk about us and praise us with what is not in us, so it is natural that they also criticize us with what is not in us." This covers that, and a person's character becomes balanced. So take heed, O you who have understanding.