Looking for the shortcoming of others

Allah Ta'ala says:

"Do not look for the shortcoming (of others)." (S 49: V 12)

According to this portion of the verse, Allah Ta'ala is preventing us from looking for the shortcomings of others. There are different ways to look for the shortcoming of a person. One may eavesdrops and listen to the conversation of a person or one may open a letter of his or sign into his mailbox on one's mobile phone to find out what he is doing. In a like manner, at times people may even go all the way to a person's house just to find out information about somebody.

All these means of spying on someone and wanting to know his shortcomings, is an attitude of meanness which the Shari'ah does not authorise. Thus, it is a Haraam and forbidden act. As far as possible, one should not interfere in the affairs of others. And if ever you came to know of the shortcomings of a person, then you should keep it to yourself. One must not disclose it to others.

The honour and dignity of a person is very sacred. It is the duty of every Muslim to preserve the dignity and the honour of his friend. The one who preserves the dignity of others by concealing their shortcomings, is in fact making an effort to conceal his own shortcomings because in a Hadith, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"Whoever conceals the shortcoming of a Muslim, Allah Ta'ala will conceal his shortcoming on the day of Qiyaamah."

If we want Allah Ta'ala to conceal our faults and sins on the day of Qiyaamah, then we must conceal the sins of others. Nobody can pretend that he has no fault in him. Everyone must be having some fault in him. Nobody likes that a person discloses his sins. Thus, we must deal with people just as we would have liked to be dealt with.

In another Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"Do not seek the shortcoming of your Muslim brother because the one who seeks the shortcoming of his Muslim brother, Allah Ta'ala will seek his shortcoming. The one whom Allah Ta'ala seeks his shortcoming, He will humiliate him even if he remains concealed inside his house."

According to this Hadith, one sees that a person who plays with the honour of another will not be able to live with honour themselves. It means that one's honour is in preserving the honour of others. Preserving the honour of people is a means of being honourable in the Dunya and Aakhirah.

May Allah Ta'ala grant all of us these good qualities! Ameen.

[English version of "Rode défaut ou prochain" – Al Jamiat – Vol.5 No.11]