Finding fault with others

The loathsome and disgusting nature of finding fault with others has been described in many verses of the Holy Quran and the Hadith and we have been ordered to refrain from this.

 

What the Holy Quran says about backbiting

 

Allah Ta’ala says:

 

(The one who is) a slanderer, fault-finder, mischief-monger (and) backbiting the people to rouse strife,  Surah Qalam (68:11)

 

(The one who is) rude, unmannerly, crooked and moreover of doubtful birth.  Surah Qalam (68:13)

 

Hadhrat ‘Abdullah Bin Mubarak (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says:  “Zaneem” means a person who is not the son of his father (i.e. born of an adulterous relationship) and cannot keep quiet about any thing.  Thus if a person who backbites, it is an indication that that person is born of an adulterous relationship.  He has deduced this from the aforementioned verse.

 

Allah Ta’ala also says:

 

Woe to everyone who slanders (face to face) and finds fault (in absence)!  Surah Humaza (104:1)

 

The word “Humaza” means a person who profusely finds fault with others.

 

In Surah Lahab, Allah Ta’ala says:

 

And his (damned, wretched) wife (too) who carries (on her head) the burden of (thorny) twigs (and spreads them in the way of Our Beloved, to injure his holy soles).  (111:4)

 

In the exegesis of this verse, the exegetes have said that this means a woman who finds fault that she passes on stories to others.

 

Allah Ta’ala says in Surah Tahreem:

 

Allah has described for disbelievers the example of Nuh’s (Noah’s) wife (Wahila) and Lut’s (Lot’s) wife (Wa’ila). They were married to two most pious of Our servants. But both of them betrayed them. So they could not help them before (the torment of) Allah and it was said to them: ‘Both of you (women) enter Hell along with all who enter it.’  Surah Tahreem (66:10)

 

It is mentioned in Traditions that the wife of Hadhrat Lut (May peace be upon him) would tell the other people about her guests and Hadhrat Nooh’s (May peace be upon him) wife would tell others that Hadhrat Nooh (May peace be upon him) is insane.

 

Condemnation in the Hadith of those who find fault with others

 

There is a Hadith in Musnad Imam Ahmad Bin Hambal:

 

Translation: Hadhrat Abu Wail (May Allah be well pleased with him) narrates on the authority of Hadhrat Hudhaifa (May Allah be well pleased with him) that Hadhrat Hudhaifa (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  I heard the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) say:  A person who finds faults will not enter Jannah.  (Musnad Imam Ahmad Bin Hambal, Hadith No. 22236)

 

Imam Ali Muttaqi Hindi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes in Kanz Ul Ummal:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The most likable among you are those whose manners are pleasing, those who treat others nicely, they love others and others love them.  The most evil among you are those who backbite and create differences between Muslim brothers and keep searching for accusations to hurl at innocent people.  (Kanz Ul Ummal, Hadith No. 5198)

 

 

By Mufti Hafidh Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri, Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia, Founder/Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center