Gentleness in All Things
The teaching that gentleness beautifies everything and its absence spoils everything.
The Prophet (PBUH) said: 'Gentleness is not found in anything except that it beautifies it, and it is not removed from anything except that it disgraces it.' This hadith establishes gentleness (rifq) as a universal enhancer. Gentle speech, gentle handling, gentle correction—all produce better results than harshness. The Prophet never struck a servant, woman, or animal. He taught gently, corrected gently, and led gently. The hadith presents gentleness as an adornment whose removal only brings disgrace.
Gentleness is not found in anything except that it beautifies it, and it is not removed from anything except that it disgraces it.
Aisha (RA) reported that the Prophet loved gentleness in all matters and disliked harshness, even when dealing with those who wronged him.
Sahih Muslim
Written about in
- What Islam says about what to say and what to leave unsaid
How you say it is regulated as tightly as what you say. Gentleness is described as beautifying everything it enters and disgracing everything it leaves — which makes a harshly delivered truth a defective act rather than a brave one.