Slander

Bismillaah!


Assalaam O Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wabarakatuh!

Slander
By Abdul Malik Al-Qasim
[Book]

In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

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"O you who believe! If a Fasiq (liar - evil person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done." (49:6)

Definition of terms:

Mukallaf : a competent person in complete control of all faculties.
Gheebah : backbiting
Buhtaan : saying something untrue about a person
Nammaam/Nammaamah : male/female performing Nameemah
Ijmaa': consensus of the Muslim scholars
Kidhb : lying
Hasad : envy
Nifaaq : hypocrisy

The Muslim Ummah is distinctive with the qualities of love and brotherhood, affection adorns the hearts and smiles beautify the faces. The principles among the believers are those of brotherhood and good friendship. Allah has said:

"The believers are nothing else than brothers." (49:10)

Allah has prohibited the believers from anything that may induce enmity and hatred amongst them:

"Shaitan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from Salat. So, will you not abstain?" 
(5:91)

Allah has conferred His favor upon His slaves in joining their hearts. He said:

"And remember Allah's favor on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together so that by His Grace you became brethren." 
(3:103)

"He it is Who has supported you with His help and with the believers, and He has united their hearts. If you had spent all that is in earth you could not have united their hearts, but Allah has united them."
(8:62-63)

Every Mukallaf should safeguard his tongue against all kinds of loose talk except when it is evident that talking will be a means of beneficence. When talking and being quiet are both equal as a prudent measure, then the Sunna is to abstain from speech. This is because even lawful speech may lead to unlawful or unpleasant matters. This is, unfortunately, a common practice. Abu-Hurairah reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:

"Whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak what is good or be silent."
(Agreed upon)

This Hadith is clear and indisputable that a person should not talk unless what he wants to say is good and there is benefit from it. However, when he doubts whether there would be benefit or good, he should then not speak. Imam Shafi'ee said:

"If a person wishes to say something then he should think before he starts talking. If there is good, then he should speak, otherwise he should not."

Wa Alikum Assalaam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh!

Source.

To be Continued!