Suspicion and Spying

Allaah, Exalted is He, says: “O you who believe, avoid much suspicion for indeed much suspicion is sin. Do not spy on each other …”

This noble verse contains the command to steer clear of much suspicion and highlights that much suspicion is sin. It also prohibits spying: searching and hunting for the mistakes and defects of people. This only comes about as a result of evil suspicion.

Bukhari and Muslim record that the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Beware of suspicion for suspicion is the most false of speech. Do not hunt for faults in others, do not spy, do not be envious of each other, do not hate each other, and do not turn your backs on each other, but be servants of Allaah as brothers.”

The Leader of the Believers, ‘Umar bin al-Khattab, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, “Think only well of a word that leaves your believing brother so long as you find a way of understanding it in a good way.” This was quoted by ibn Kathir in his commentary to the above verse.

Bakr bin ‘Abdullah al-Muzani said, as quoted of him in his biography in Tadhib at-Tadhib , “Beware of a type of speech which you are correct in, you would not be rewarded, and if you are wrong, you would be sinful: evil suspicion of your brother.”

Abu Qilabah ‘Abdullah bin Zayd bin al-Jurmi said, as quoted in Abu Nu’aym, al-Hilyah, “If something of your brother is conveyed to you that you dislike, expend all your efforts in finding an excuse for him’ even then, if you cannot find an excuse say to yourself: perhaps he has an excuse that I am not aware of.”

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Making the Most of Shawwaal

“Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime”

(Reported by Muslim, no. 1984)

Related Posts:

• Fasting the 6 Days of Shawwaal [Q&A]
• Fasting Shawwaal While Still Having to Make Up Fasts?

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Combatting Pride

Hasan Al-Basree advised some of his students admonishing them about avoiding the state of being proud. He said:

1) Do not deceive yourself into becoming too proud because you are in a good or righteous environment, for there is no place that is better than Paradise, and our father, Adam ‘alayhi salaam, experienced there what is known to all.

2) Do not become proud merely because you worship often, for consider what happened to Iblees after he spent a great deal of time worshipping.

3) Do not think yourself great because you have met with righteous people, for there is no man more righteous than the Prophet salAllaahu ‘alahi wasallam, yet the disbelievers and hypocrites did not benefit by simply knowing him.

• Transcribed from: Gems and Jewels | Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid | DarusSalam

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Studying the Qur’aan and Teaching It

Firstly, it is incumbent upon the Muslims to learn this Qur’aan and to study it, and they should teach it to their children and their brothers. And they should be concerned with memorizing it, and they should be concerned with being proficient in reading it. Based upon the statement of the Messenger of Allaah salAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam:

“The best of you are those who study the Qur’aan and teach it.” [1]

Meaning, first he studies the Qur’aan himself and perfects his studies, and then he teaches it to others from amongst his Muslim brothers. He is not limited to himself only, but rather he should spread his good and spread his benefit to his brothers and to the Muslim children. So, what is requested from the Muslim is that he shows concern with studying this Qur’aan. It is not sufficient for the person that he continues to stammer or sputter out the verses of the Qur’aan while he is able to learn it and perfect his reading so that he can pronounce it in the correct manner. Then it would not be sufficient for him to continue to stammer while reading. But if there occurred some stammering or spelling out of the words while making an effort to read the Qur’aan then there is a lot of good in this as the Prophet Muhammad salAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam said:

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Continue Striving

If a Muslim lived through Ramadaaan and spent its days in fasting and its nights in prayer, and in that month he accustomed himself to doing acts of good, then he must continue to remain upon this obedience to Allaah at all times (after that). This is the true state of the servant (‘abd), for indeed, the Lord of the months is One and He is ever watchful and witnessing His servants at all times.

Indeed, steadfastness after Ramadaan and the rectification of one’s statements and actions are the greatest signs that one has gained benefit from the month of Ramadaan and that he struggled in obedience. They are tokens of acceptance and signs of success.

Furthermore, the deeds of a servant do not come to an end with the end of a month and the beginning of another. Rather they continue and extend until one reaches death, for Allaah says: “And worship your Lord until the certainty (i.e., death) comes to you.”

Complete Article

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