Explanation of the report of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): (I do not know which of the two prepared food for the other, Ibn 'Abbas or Ibn 'Umar. While the slave girl was working before them, one of them said to her...)

The Shaykh : Among these bad and obscene titles is what comes in the report following the previous hadith. The author (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated with a good chain from 'Ikrimah, one of the students of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both). 'Ikrimah said: "I do not know which of the two prepared food for the other, Ibn 'Abbas or his cousin." This is a cautious statement; he is saying that one of them, either Ibn 'Abbas or his cousin, prepared food and invited people. He said: "While the slave girl—the maidservant—was working before them, one of them said to her: 'O fornicator'—this is an explicit term of open sinfulness. Then he said: 'Be quiet'—meaning Ibn 'Abbas was warning this speaker against this word—'If you do not punish her in this world, she will punish you in the Hereafter.' By this, he indicates that if a Muslim says to his Muslim brother or sister, 'O fornicator' or 'O fornicator,' this is an accusation and a charge of committing a major sin. The charge of committing a major sin deserves flogging as a punishment in this world, and the punishment in the Hereafter is more severe and lasting. Ibn 'Abbas said to that man who uttered this ugly phrase and threw this ugly label at her: 'This slave girl, who is a female slave and owned, may not be able to bring her case to one who would execute the hadd against you for your accusation of her. So do not be negligent, for she will execute the hadd against you in the Hereafter.' This means that Allah (Mighty and Majestic), who does not wrong people in the least, and before whom people are equal on the Day of Resurrection—there is no rich or poor, no master or slave, no leader or led, but they are equal as the teeth of a comb, with no difference whatsoever between anyone and anyone—there, when the scales are set up on the Day of Resurrection and people are reckoned, and it becomes clear that this man actually accused her of being a fornicator, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will take her right from him and punish him to the extent he deserves. This is a warning from Ibn 'Abbas to the Muslim not to utter such a phrase and be punished for it, either in this world or in the Hereafter. He said: 'Be quiet. If you do not punish her in this world, she will punish you in the Hereafter.' He said: 'What do you think if that is the case?' He said: 'Indeed, Allah does not like the obscene one who is excessively obscene.' The man who called the slave girl 'O fornicator' turned back to ask Ibn 'Abbas: 'If I say that to her and she is indeed so—meaning she is not a clean and noble maidservant, but as he said she is—what is your opinion, O Ibn 'Abbas? Will I be punished in the same way if I described her with what is in her?' He said: 'Indeed, Allah does not like the obscene one who is excessively obscene.' It is sufficient for you that you uttered an obscene and bad word. He means: suppose she is as you say, but what do you do with this obscene phrase? It is as if he is saying: avoid this phrase even if you know that it is true of her and that she possesses that trait. You must refine your speech and guard your tongue.