The Muslim Whom Others Are Safe From

Many of the Prophet's best-known statements on character come through 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr. It is he who reported, "The Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe" (Sahih al-Bukhari 10), and that the Prophet ﷺ was never coarse or foul, and used to say, "The best of you are the best in character" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3559).

He was known as a scholar of the earlier scriptures as well. A report says he came into possession of some books of the People of the Book after the Battle of Yarmuk and would relate from them; because of this, some later scholars were careful about reports that might have come from that source. The report is of limited strength and the point is only a matter of caution, not an accusation.

He lived long, and died around 65 AH. Even the place is disputed: Makkah, Ta'if, Egypt and Palestine are all named. What is certain is the number of people who learned from him, among them his own pupils in Makkah and Egypt, and how much of his knowledge reached us in writing.