Avoiding suspicion and gossip
In ignorant society some people have habits that have become
inseparable parts of their lives. These are nurturing suspicions
about others, prying, or trying to learn private things that don't
concern them and slander: gossiping about others and talking be-
hind their backs. These types of behaviour usually go together be-
cause someone who slanders someone else does so because they al-
ready have unworthy thoughts about him. In the same way, some-
one who pries into another's business does so because he is suspi-
cious.
In the teachings of the Qur'an there is no room for this kind of
unpleasant behaviour and Allah commands believers to avoid it:
You who believe! Avoid most suspicion. Indeed some suspi-
cion is a crime. And do not spy and do not backbite one an-
other. Would any of you like to eat his brother's dead flesh?
No, you would hate it. And have taqwa of Allah. Allah is Ever-
Returning, Most Merciful. (Surat al-Hujurat: 12)
Allah's verses are always in the mind of a believer who care-
fully avoids behaving in a way that He does not like. He does not
try to collect information on another person with an evil intention;
He will not say anything unpleasant, anything he is unsure of, or
anything that would hurt another's feelings. He will not be caught
up in envious surmise on a person about whom he knows nothing.
His thoughts about a person he does not know will always be pos-
itive; he will speak only about the good and attractive sides of that
person. So, taking the example of the reactions of believers to a
slander directed at women, Allah says in the Qur'an that a believer
who is not sure about the truth of a matter concerning someone else
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24 Hours in the Life of a Muslim
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