be better than themselves; nor should any women ridicule
other women who may be better than themselves. And do not
find fault with one another or insult each other with deroga-
tory nicknames. How evil it is to have a name for evil conduct
after coming to faith! Those people who do not turn from it are
wrongdoers. (Surat al-Hujurat: 11)
In another verse, our Lord warns,
"Woe to every faultfinding
backbiter"
(Surat al-Humaza: 1) and warns people who behave in
this ugly way; who do not live according to the teachings of the
Qur'an and who do not think about the account they will render in
the afterlife.
No form of ridicule is allowed among believers. Believers
know that it is our Lord Who has given to everyone their wealth,
beauty, intelligence, talents and other qualities. They take delight in
the fine qualities they see in others and, because they seek Allah's
approval and not to satisfy their own egos, they have none of the
arrogance and jealousy that characterise ignorant society. For this
reason believers are always tolerant, positive and modest towards
one another.
At the same time believers realise that the defects they see in
one another are tests from Allah. For this reason they don't call at-
tention to these defects, but compensate for them by acting posi-
tively. They carefully avoid the
slightest action, facial expres-
sion or word that would sug-
gest ridicule.
Harun Yahya
r
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