Does the prohibition in the verse “Avoid much suspicion, for some suspicion is a sin” include the open sinners among the Muslims?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says: [Al-Hujurat 49:12] Does this mean that this prohibition covers the open sinner among the Muslims?
The Shaykh : It covers the open sinner among the Muslims.
The questioner : I mean, does...
Another questioner : Does one hold a good opinion 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 conceive of this open sinner as being an open sinner in everything. He must not be an open sinner in some matters. The verse is general and includes the one known for some open sinfulness and the one not known for it. But the important thing is that one should not assume certainty based merely on a doubtful matter and mere hearsay, as we know from his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: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.
The questioner : Another question.
avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin
اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌThe Shaykh : It covers the open sinner among the Muslims.
The questioner : I mean, does...
Another questioner : Does one hold a good opinion 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 conceive of this open sinner as being an open sinner in everything. He must not be an open sinner in some matters. The verse is general and includes the one known for some open sinfulness and the one not known for it. But the important thing is that one should not assume certainty based merely on a doubtful matter and mere hearsay, as we know from his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:
Beware of Zann (suspicion), for indeed Zann is the falsest of speech.
إياكم والظَّنَّ ؛ فإنَّ الظَّنَّ أكذب الحديثBeware of Zann (suspicion), for indeed Zann is the falsest of speech.
إياكم والظَّنَّ ؛ فإنَّ الظَّنَّ أكذب الحديثThe questioner : Another question.
Source
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