The following ahadith warn against praising too much and showering undue praise upon someone which unfortunately occurs all too often on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, which are a trial for some who are duped into seeking praise, fame, status, prestige, and the like.

Here are the ahadith:

1) ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Abu Bakra reported on the authority of his father that a person praised another person in the presence of Allaah’s Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam), whereupon he said: Woe be to thee, you have broken the neck of your friend, you have broken the neck of your friend-he said this twice. If one of you has to praise his friend at all, he should say: I think (him to be) so and Allaah knows it well and I do not know the secret of the heart and Allaah knows the destined end, and I cannot testify his purity against Allaah but (he appears) to be so and so.

[No. 7139]

2) Abd al-Rahman b. Abu Bakra reported on the authority of his father that a person was mentioned in the presence of Allaah’s Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam), and a person said: Allaah’s Messenger, no person is more excellent than he after Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam). Thereupon Allaah’s Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Woe be to thee, you have broken the neck of your friend, and he said this twice. Then Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: If anyone has to praise his brother at all, he should say: I think him to be so and so, and even on this he should say: I do not consider anyone purer than Allaah (considers). This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Shu’ba with a slight variation of wording.

[No. 7140]

3) Abu Musa reported Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) saw a person lauding another person or praising him too much. Thereupon he said: You killed him, or you sliced the back of a person.

[No. 7141]

4) Abu Ma’mar reported that a person lauded a ruler amongst the rulers and Miqdad began to throw dust upon him and he said: Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) commanded us that we should throw dust upon the faces of those who shower too much praise.

[No. 7142]

5) Hammam b. al-Harith reported that a person began to praise ‘Uthman and Miqdad sat upon his knee; and he was a bulky person and began to throw pebbles upon his (flatterer’s) face. Thereupon ‘Uthman said: What is the matter with you? And he said: Verily, Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: When you see those who shower (undue) praise (upon others), throw dust upon their faces.

[No. 7143]

6) This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Miqdad through another chain of transmitters.

[No. 7144]

Sahih Muslim, The Book of Abstinence and Heart-Melting Narrations (Book 42), CHAPTER: IT IS PROHIBITED TO PRAISE ANYONE SO MUCH THAT THERE MAY BE FEAR OF HIS BEING INTOXICATED BECAUSE OF THAT