What is the meaning of (O Allah, do not hold me accountable for what they say, and make me better than what they think)?
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The Shaykh : Please, Doctor.
The questioner : The saying is that when a person is praised, he should say: O Allah, make us better than what they think, forgive us for what they do not know, and do not hold us accountable for what they say.
The Shaykh : This is a report (athar) that, if there were a prophet after the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), it would be him, and it is not 'Umar. He gave the... because there is someone better than 'Umar, and that is Abu Bakr. This is the saying of Abu Bakr... So Abu Bakr, when he was praised, would say: "O Allah, do not hold me accountable for what they say, make me better than what they think, and forgive me for what they do not know." This is a very great thing. Do you have anything else? ...
The questioner : The hadith, is the intended meaning literal or figurative?
The Shaykh : This question is like that question when you asked these people what they say, such and such. I told you, it is their intentions. The one who praises and says he does not believe it, I told you, I do not believe it. We asked you, what is the benefit of this question, and you did not answer us. Now, what is the benefit of the question?
The questioner : Let us see if it is literal so that we may perform the Sunnah.
The Shaykh : You do not do this thing.
The questioner : The saying is that when a person is praised, he should say: O Allah, make us better than what they think, forgive us for what they do not know, and do not hold us accountable for what they say.
The Shaykh : This is a report (athar) that, if there were a prophet after the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), it would be him, and it is not 'Umar. He gave the... because there is someone better than 'Umar, and that is Abu Bakr. This is the saying of Abu Bakr... So Abu Bakr, when he was praised, would say: "O Allah, do not hold me accountable for what they say, make me better than what they think, and forgive me for what they do not know." This is a very great thing. Do you have anything else? ...
The questioner : The hadith
Throw dust in the faces of the praisers
احثوا في وجه المداحين الترابThe Shaykh : This question is like that question when you asked these people what they say, such and such. I told you, it is their intentions. The one who praises and says he does not believe it, I told you, I do not believe it. We asked you, what is the benefit of this question, and you did not answer us. Now, what is the benefit of the question?
The questioner : Let us see if it is literal so that we may perform the Sunnah.
The Shaykh : You do not do this thing.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.