O' believers! Guard against situations that may lead to conflicts. For instance, no group of believers may ridicule another, for who knows the ridiculed may be higher in status with Allaah^-SWT than the mocker. Similarly the believing women must be very careful in what they say and should never speak disdainfully about other women. The latter may be dearer to Allaah^-SWT than the former. Do not find faults in one another, for it promotes hatred and estrangement. No one should call another names. These are important issues that Quran has enjoined upon the believing men and women independently, but are grossly ignored today resulting in mutual hatred. It is indeed repugnant to speak ill of one other and give the infidels a chance to raise fingers on Muslims. It does not befit a believer to call someone with insulting names. Still if a believer continues to act depravedly and does not stop, he is guilty of wickedness and will be dealt with accordingly.

 

Similarly, scepticism is an evil trait that does not befit a believer. Because suspicion is one of the grave sins, it is forbidden to be sceptical of any believer without solid evidence. There is no need to be inquisitive or suspicious in order to find out the weaknesses of others. One is responsible to act in accordance with the apparent situation without wasting time in finding faults in others. And a believer must never engage in backbiting, which is like tearing the flesh from his brother's corpse to devour, a loathsome idea indeed. A corpse feels no pain when its flesh is torn, though it does expose its bones. Yet the guilty would be indulging in an extremely disgusting activity. Similarly the person who is absent is unaware of what is being talked about him while the backbiter tears his cloak apart, exposing his secrets. So O' believers!. You must repent and renounce backbiting and be mindful of Allah^-SWT, the Most Merciful.

 

Rules on Backbiting

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To speak ill of anyone in his absence is termed as backbiting. If what is being said is not true, it falls under slander. If the victim is not so far aware of what has been said in his absence, the backbiter must confess his guilt before him. And if the victim comes to know of it then the backbiter must beg his pardon as well.

 

Similarly it is forbidden to backbite against children, the tax-paying infidels under protection and an insane person, whether by word of mouth or by gestures. The only exception is where evil is likely to spread if a wicked person is not exposed with a view to protecting the masses. It is also permissible to inform a person or an agency that can pre-empt the evil and take remedial measures. In any case the aim must purely be the reformation and not humiliation.

 

O' People! Allaah^-SWT has procreated all of you from a single male and a female and has divided you into different tribes and clans merely for identification. And as for the honour and precedence, the most honourable amongst you in Allah^-SWT‘s view is the one who is most righteous. Righteousness is indeed an inner state known only to Allaah^-SWT and people have no means to measure it. So give due regard to all according to their ranks, as Allaah^-SWT is All Knowing. With the emergence of an Islamic State in Madinah, some people identified their mundane interests with it and a lot from the rural areas outwardly embraced Islam without inner endorsement. They would observe the worships only for expected petty gains. One of them mentioned their conversion to Islam before the Holy Prophet^-SW as if they had done a great favour to Islam. The Holy Prophet^-SW was commanded to tell them that they had not become believers and had at the most submitted to Islam. The faith as such had not penetrated their hearts. And if they were to accept it whole heartedly, in submission to Allaah^-SWT and His^-SWT Messenger^-SW, He^-SWT will not nullify even their superficial deeds, being the Forgiving, Clement.

 

Are Islam and Faith Two Different Concepts?

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In terms of Shari'ah, Islam and Iman (faith) are the same. The former means submission followed by an endorsement by the heart. It is conformity in deeds ending up in confirmation by the Qalb. On the other hand, Iman refers to an endorsement by the Qalb first, followed by conformity in deeds. Both are one and the same, though having different meanings in the literal sense. For instance, the hypocrites outwardly displayed obedience while their hearts were void of faith. They were taken as Muslims but in Allah^-SWT‘s Knowledge they were not believers. And who indeed are the believers? Those who once having believed in Allaah^-SWT and His^-SWT Prophet^-SW never faltered in their faith throughout life. They never considered their lives or wealth to be their own, rather fought in Allaah^-SWT ’s Cause with both and proved their metal as true believers. And those who profess obedience only for vested interests, and never willingly donate even a penny in Allaah^-SWT ’s Cause nor participate in Jihad, are not true to their claim. They are in effect trying to devise a new religion, in order to bluff Allaah^-SWT by professing piety. Do they know better than what is revealed by Allaah^-SWT as Din? They ought to refrain from yet another act of impudence by way of fabrications, for Allaah^-SWT is well Aware of all affairs of the heavens and the earth.

 

These foolish people expect the Holy Prophet^-SW to be indebted to them for having converted to Islam. They must be told not to consider it as a favour to him^-SW, rather it is for their own good. Had they not converted, they would have been destroyed. And if they are true in their claim of having accepted the faith wholeheartedly, it is indeed a great Divine favour that He^-SWT facilitated them with the capacity to believe. Beware that Allaah^-SWT knows all the hidden secrets in your bosoms, and is also watching over your deeds.