Sinful Suspicion
| Khatib : |
Sadullah Khan |
| Khutbah No: |
201 |
| Khutbah Date: |
06/16/06 |
[b]يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ[/b][i]O you who proclaim faith; avoid most suspicion, for some suspicion is sin[/i][b][Qur’an 49:12][/b][b]إياكم والظن فإن الظن أكذب الحديث[/b][i]Be careful of suspicion for suspicion could be the worst lie.[/i][b][Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)] [/b][b]Unfortunate Reality[/b]We are living at an unfortunate time where[list][*]the government (under the guise of security interest) is officially deputizing its agencies to spy on law-abiding people on the basis of suspicion;[/*][*]suspicion based on prejudice, that assumes people guilty by association;[/*][*]and the association is made due to the faith that people share;[/*][*]and the faith shared happens to be Islam. [/*][/list] As a follower of the faith of Islam, it bothers me; and as a decent conscientious human being, it disgusts me. [b]Beware of Suspicion[/b]Islam seeks to establish its society on a clear conscience and mutual trust, not on doubt, suspicion, accusation, and mistrust. Hence the Qur’an mentions …
[b]يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ[/b][i]O you who believe! Avoid(indulging in) suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin.[/i][b][Qur’an 49:12] [/b]Sinful suspicion is defined as ascribing evil motives to others. If there is a legitimate reason (not based on envy or prejudice) to doubt someone then one may exercise operational caution in dealing with someone , but we can not impute evil motives to others without justification and clear evidence. Given the basic assumption that people are innocent, mere suspicion should not be allowed to cause an innocent person to be accused. We should (in the words of Gandhi) realize that [i]he moment there is suspicion about a person's motives, (almost) everything that person does becomes tainted. [/i]Ash-Shaheed Sayyid Qutb explains [b][Qur’an al-hujuraat 49:12] [/b] [i]thus; “It follows that by issuing an order to avoid most suspicion, so that people do not leave themselves to any thoughts of doubt about others, justifying this order by the fact that some suspicion is sinful. Since the prohibition applies to most suspicion and the rule is that some of it is sinful, then the verse implies that all negative suspicion should be avoided, because a person does not know which part of his or her doubts are sinful.The Qur’an thus purges a Muslim’s inner conscience so that it may not be contaminated with evil suspicion and incur sin. It leaves it clean, free of doubt, entertaining only friendly and affectionate thoughts toward one’s brethren. In this way it keeps suspicion away from society in order to enable the community to enjoy a feeling of reassurance unmarred by worry and apprehension. Life in a community where ill thoughts have no place is both serene and comfortable.” [/i] [IN THE SHADE OF THE QUR’AN] [b]The Sinfulness of Suspicion[/b]Persistent suspicion often arises from an infected, corrupt or guilty mind and frequently leads to unnecessary harm. Heed the advice of the wise …[list]
[*]He that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious, and he that becomes suspicious will quickly become corrupt.[/*][*]Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind[/*][*]Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind[/*][*]Suspicion is far more to be wrong than right; more often unjust than just. It is no friend to virtue, and always an enemy to happiness.[/*][/list] [b]Rule of Heart[/b]It is in keeping with this philosophy of avoiding negative suspicion that we find a strong emphasis in Islam on being cautious regarding …i. how we perceive thingsIn the words of essayist, Alexander Pope;[i] all seems infected that the infected spy, As all looks yellow to the jaundiced eye.[/i] [Essay on Criticism] ii. what we feel/ hear/ and sayThe Caliph ‘Umar said; [i] Do not assist the backbiter.[/i]
[b]لا يساعد المغتاب ، قد أظهر قبحا كان مستورا و هتك سترا كان مسدو[/b][i]He disclosed a bad feature that was screened and has unveiled what was covered.[/i]The Caliph Imam ‘Ali therefore said[i]the one who listens to backbiting is equally guilty[/i]
[b] السامع للغيبة كالمغتاب[/b]Also remember the Talmudic advice;[i]Thy friend has a friend, and thy friend's friend has a friend; so be cautious what you say to whom.[/i] Imam Shaf’ie advised;
[b]من نمَّ لك نمَّ بك، و من اذا أرضيتَهُ قال فيك ما ليس فيك[/b][b]و اذا أغضبتَهُ قال فيك ما ليس فيك[/b][i]Be aware that a person who carries tales to you will carry tales about you. When he is pleased with you will say good things about you that you do not deserve; and when he is displeased/angry with you will say things about you that you do not deserve.[/i]Allah instructs us …
[b]هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّاء بِنَمِيمٍ وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ [/b][b]مَنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ[/b][i]Heed not the type of despicable person, always ready with oaths; a slanderer, going about defaming others; hindering good efforts, transgressing beyond bounds, deep in sin.[/i][b][Q 68: 11 -13][/b]Unwarranted suspicion is one such sin, and the Prophet (pbuh) warned;
[b]إياكم والظن فإن الظن أكذب الحديث[/b][i]Be careful of suspicion for vocalized suspicion could be the worst lie.[/i]iii. what we allow ourselves to believe.Allah reminds us in the Qur’an,
[b]إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولـئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْؤُولا[/b][i]“Surely, every act of hearing, of seeing or of (feeling in) the heart will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).[/i][b][Q 17:36] [/b]Reflect on thisa) Primacy of Human Dignity ~ A fundamental aspect of Islamic teaching is the preservation of human dignity and the respect for the integrity of others. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is reported to have said;
[b]المُسِلمَُ مَن سَلِمَ المُسلمُون مِن لِسانِه و يَِِدِهِ[/b][b]والمُؤمن مَن أمِنَهُ الناس على دِمَاءِهِم و اموالِهم و انفسِهم[/b][i] A Muslim is one from whose words and deeds other Muslims are safe;A Mu’min is one in whom humankind find safety and security regarding their lives, their property and their honor.[/i]b) Rule of Social Interaction ~[i]There are three good rules which ought to be written on every heart;[/i][list][*]
do not believe anything bad about anybody unless you positively know it to be true;[/*][*]never tell anything about anybody unless it is absolutely necessary,[/*][*]always remember that Allah is a witness to what you say and what you hear. [Sufi Tradition][/*][/list] As we ask Allah to guide us, we call to mind the prayer of Prophet [b]اللهم اغفرلنا ما اسررنا وما أعلنا ما أخظأنا وما تعتدنا ما علمنا و ما جهلنا [/b][i]O Allah, forgive us that which we did secretly and what we did publicly; What we did inadvertently and what we did deliberately; What we did knowingly and what we did out of ignorance.[/i]
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