Is it permissible to have a bad opinion of an open sinner?
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Shuqara: ... Another question says, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: [Al-Hujurat 49:12]; does this mean this prohibition includes the open sinner among the Muslims?
The Shaykh : It includes the open sinner.
Shuqara: I mean, does ...
The questioner : Should one assume good of the open sinner?
The Shaykh : I do not see that the verse is specific to one Muslim over another; because this open sinner is a Muslim, and we cannot imagine this open sinner to be an open sinner in everything, so he must not be an open sinner in some things. The verse is general and includes the one who is known for some open sinfulness and the one who is not known, but the important thing is that one should not assume with certainty based on mere suspicion and mere hearing, as we know from his saying (peace be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1988Sahih (Darussalam), Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1988Sahih (Darussalam). As for having a bad opinion of the open sinner or of one who is not an open sinner, the verse is general and includes both.
avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin
اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌThe Shaykh : It includes the open sinner.
Shuqara: I mean, does ...
The questioner : Should one assume good of the open sinner?
The Shaykh : I do not see that the verse is specific to one Muslim over another; because this open sinner is a Muslim, and we cannot imagine this open sinner to be an open sinner in everything, so he must not be an open sinner in some things. The verse is general and includes the one who is known for some open sinfulness and the one who is not known, but the important thing is that one should not assume with certainty based on mere suspicion and mere hearing, as we know from his saying (peace be upon him):
Beware of Zann (suspicion), for indeed Zann is the falsest of speech.
إياكم والحديث ، إياكم والظن ؛ فإن الظَّنَّ أكذب الحديثBeware of Zann (suspicion), for indeed Zann is the falsest of speech.
إياكم والظن ؛ فإن الظن أكذب الحديث
Source
www.al-albany.com
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