Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Bismillahir-Rahmanir- Rahim
1. Introduction
Beloved, God-conscious friends, psychologically speaking, a person’s desire to seek out and spread the mistakes of others often stems from a sense of inferiority projected outward. Scientifically, a healthy soul is one with high empathy. When we cover the faults of others, our brains build circuits of tranquility and security. A serene soul does not need to put others down to feel superior. On the contrary, spreading scandals only creates a social environment full of suspicion and poison for our collective mental health.
2. Explanation
Qur’anic and Hadith Evidence
A. Qur’anic Verse (Prohibition of seeking faults):
وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوْا وَلَا يَغْتَبْ بَّعْضُكُمْ بَعْضًاۗ
“And do not spy or backbite one another.” (QS. Al-Hujurat: 12) B. The Saying of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (Promise for the one who covers faults):
وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ
“Whoever covers the fault of a Muslim, Allah will cover his faults in this world and in the Hereafter.” (HR. Muslim)
3. Lessons and Message
A believer is a _Sattar_—a concealer of faults—while a wicked person is an exposer of scandals. Do not become a “detective” for your brother’s mistakes. Asking “Where does he live?” or “What is his name?” just to humiliate him is an act that distances you from Allah’s mercy. Remember, the honor of a believer is more sacred in the sight of Allah than the Ka‘bah. If Allah Himself covers so many of your faults, why are you so eager to expose the faults of His other servants? Imagine someone who has just fallen into error and deeply regrets it. He repents with sincere tears in the middle of the night. Then, in the morning, someone deliberately spreads the news on social media or into the ears of neighbors, until everyone looks at him with contempt. How shattered that person’s heart would be. But imagine if, at that moment, he met a true believer who embraced him, covered his fault, and said, “Your matter with Allah is settled; let us move forward.” This act of concealing a fault could be the reason someone returns to Allah’s path, and for the one who does it, it is a saving deposit so that his own faults will not be exposed by Allah before all creation on the Day of Gathering. Our lives are like an old house full of stains and cracks on its inner walls. Allah, in His mercy, applies “paint of beauty” to the outer walls so that others see our house as beautiful and sturdy. Spreading the faults of others is like going to your neighbor’s house to peel off their wall’s paint so everyone can see the cracks, while you forget that the paint on your own house is also very thin. If Allah were to “peel off” just a little of the paint covering your faults, you would not be able to lift your head before people. We can be funny sometimes. We act like unpaid “infotainment” journalists for other people’s sins. If we hear a neighbor bought a new car, we say, “Ah, showing off!” But if we hear a neighbor fell into error, we suddenly become expert investigators: “Where’s his house? What’s his full name? Where is his wife from?” We feel we are upholding justice, when in fact we are piling up the sin of backbiting. Remember, the angels recording deeds do not need your help to report other people’s mistakes. Tend to the “garbage” in your own yard before busying yourself commenting on the “dust” on someone else’s porch!
4. Conclusion
Dear brothers and sisters, be gentle. Be among those who forgive and conceal. Do not cause scandals, for whoever brings up his brother’s faults, Allah will bring up his own faults until he is humiliated—even inside his own home. Let us guard our tongues and our thumbs on social media. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad, the truthful and trustworthy.
والله أعلم بالصواب
الحمد لله رب العالمين
Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmaullahi Wabarakatuh.
ِAbu Sultan Al-Qadrie
