Foundation of USA

AL-HUDA

Foundation, NJ U. S. A

Newsletter for November 2008

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Of SOCIAL ILLS
by Syed Owais Jafrey

Allah sent Prophets and Messengers at different times in order to guide people. They came with the divine mission to reform the society, cleanse it from its social ills and decadent practices and to direct it on to the right course.

Man has been called Allah’s best creation and His vicegerent on earth; he is to follow a well-defined code of conduct to deserve that title. The last in the chain of Messengers, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s) has given us golden principles and comprehensive rules to live by, which are a key to our success in both the worlds. These rules pertain to both, the realm of worship and the domain of social life.

Prophet Muhammad (s) was the last Messenger of God and he was sent to provide guidance to all humanity. Nobody was as conversant with human psychology as him. The core values, which he the last Prophet taught represent the very foundation and basis of a balanced, moderate and healthy social order -- a social order which promotes and nourishes justice, peace, compassion and love, brotherhood, tolerance, mutual respect, understanding and good will. The Prophet of Allah also admonished and warned against the social ills, which corrode and weaken those foundations, endangering the whole edifice of the society.

Backbiting is one of the common social ills. If you say something about someone in his absence which he would not like if said in his presence. It doesn’t matter if the mentioned shortcoming or flaw is true or false. If it is true then it is back biting, if false then it is an accusation, which also is a grave sin.

Allah’s Messenger once asked his companions, “Do you know what is backbiting?” The companions replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” Thereupon he said: “Backbiting is talking about your[ Muslim ]brother in a manner which he dislikes.” One companion submitted: “What if my brother is as I say.” Prophet (s) replied: “If he is actually as you say, then that is backbiting; but if that is not in him, then it is slandering.” Muslim]

Hazrat Abu Said Khudri (r) said: “Save yourself from backbiting because it is worst than adultery. Adultery can be forgiven by Allah through earnest repentance, but backbiting can’t be forgiven unless the person against whom the sin is committed forgives you.

Another social evil is tale-bearing, slandering, or rumor mongering. The purpose is to create mischief and destroy mutual peace and social harmony. It is as grave a sin as back biting. Allah says in Ayas 10-13 of Surah Al-Qalam:

“[Prophet] do not yield to any contemptible swearer, to any backbiter, slander-monger, or hinderer of good, to any one who is sinful, aggressive, coarse, and on top of all that, an imposter.”

Aayah 16-18 of Surah Qaaf says:

“We created man – We know what his soul whispers to him: We are closer to him than his jugular vein – with two receptors set to record, one on his right side and one on his left: he does not utter a single word without an ever-present watcher.…”

Ibn-e-Abbas narrates that Prophet (s) passing by two graves said:

“Both of them [the persons in these graves) are being tortured for great sins. One of them did not use to save himself from being soiled with his urine, and the other one used to go about with calumnies [making false and malicious accusation against one another] among people to [rupture relations] and cause hostilities, e.g., one goes to a person and tells him that so and so says about him such and such evil things.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Ibn-e-Masud relates that Allah’s Messenger said: “Shall I tell you what falsehood and slandering is? It is calumny [a false and malicious accusation] which is committed among the people.” [Muslim]

Once Prophet (s) said: “Shouldn’t I tell you, who are the worst people”? Then he added: “Those go out slandering and spoil relationships between friends.”

There is yet another illness which afflicts our society. It is called “Nifaaq”, which is duplicity or hypocrisy. It means contradiction between the heart and the tongue. The Holy Qur’an and the traditions of Prophet (s) have condemned such a practice in severe
words.

Allah says in Aya 145 in Surah Nisa:

“The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of Hell, and you will find no one to help them.”

Hypocrisy can be in belief and also in action. Hypocrisy in belief means claiming belief in Allah and His Messenger by tongue, but hiding disbelief in the heart. Hypocrisy in action means that the heart and the tongue agree with each other in belief, but actions contradict that proclaimed belief.

Prophet (s) said: “Among people, you will find the worst person, who has a double-face. He appears to some people with one face and to others with another face.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Prophet (s) said that the hypocrite has three characteristics. 1) He lies when he talks. 2) He doesn’t fulfill his promise, and 3) he betrays the trust he is entrusted with. In another tradition, there is an additional characteristic, which is that a hypocrite uses foul and abusive language while he argues or picks up a fight. According to yet another tradition, such a person will be tormented by having two tongues of fire on the Day of Judgment. [Abu Dawood]

One of the social ills is ‘accusation’, which means to accuse an innocent person. This is also known as character assassination usually done due to animosity, hatred, malice and envy. People in general believe the accuser, but he is bound to be embarrassed and ashamed when his false accusation is exposed. Islam teaches us not to trust in the hearsay and spreading of hearsay is strictly forbidden.

Allah says in Aya 6 of Surah Al-Hujurat (Aya 6):

“Believers, if a troublemaker brings you news, check it first, because you may wrong others unwittingly and later regret what you have done.”

The article is slightly edited for this site.

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