The Poisonous Meat In Our Meal: Gossip And Rumor Mongering!!!

In the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

I start with the uncreated Words of Allaah. He said in the 68th chapter of the Glorious Qur'an: "And obey not everyone who swears much, and is considered worthless, A slanderer, going about with calumnies."

As humans, mistakes are intrinsic to our nature. We must learn to cover the faults of the muslims if we want Allaah to cover ours. 

"Verily, those who like that Fahishah should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allaah knows and you know not." Q24:19

Allaah warns us against listening to evil talks, believing in them and spreading them if we aspire to avert the torment of both the worlds. 

Some are desperate to hear evil talk about others so that they can spread it without verifying it in order to tarnish their image. This is sinful.

On the strength of Thawban (RA), the Prophet (Pbuh) said "Do not annoy the servants of Allaah, nor abuse them, nor seek their hidden shortcomings. Whoever seeks out the faults of his Muslim brother, Allaah will expose his faults and degrade him, even if he is hiding in his house." Hadith 

It is highly tempting to spread the mistakes of others but stifling the temptation takes us closer to Jannah. The choice is ours. 

Had our sins been written all over our faces, I guess no man would step out of his room to face his immediate family out of shame.

The way some law enforcement agents are trigger happy sadly that's how must of us are gossip happy. 

"Allaah will cover up on the Day of Resurrection the defects (faults) of the one who covers up the faults of the others in this world." Hadith

Before we move our tongues to lay down the mistakes and sins of others, it will be wise to reflect on our hidden and apparent sins also. 

‎How excellent it is to cover up the shortcomings of others, it's such a laudable act that Allaah Himself loves those who possess this quality and has promised not to disgrace them on the day when men will be disgraced.

The Prophet of Islam said:

 "Every one of my followers will be forgiven except those who expose (openly) their wrongdoings."

It's very bad to make a gist out of the sins we commit in secrecy. Gisting others about the Zina committed. Allaah wont forgive such a person.

‎Don't run your fellow Muslim brothers and sisters down by backbiting them.

Backbiting...a sin we all are guilty of.... 

Our inherent human frailty does not guarantee sinlessness but tearing up the cover provided by Allaah when we sin in seclusion is unforgivable.

Guard your tongue against gheebah (backbiting), buhtan (slander) and nameemah (malicious gossip).‎

“Whoever has wronged his brother with regard to his honour or anything else, let him seek his forgiveness today..." The Prophet of Islam

‎Al-Hasan al-Basri (RA) said: "The expiation for gheebah (backbiting) is to pray for forgiveness for the person about whom you backbit." Majmoo al Fataawah.‎

Above all, cling a deal with your Qur'an. Don't ever abandon your Qur'an. Read it, listen to it and act on its injunctions.‎