The Obligation of Covering the Muslim Who Does Not Publicize His Sin
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Question:
We then move on to a letter sent by the questioner Noura from Damascus. She says in this question: If one of us makes a mistake, is it permissible for Muslims to expose his matter and spread it? And what is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding the one who does that, O honorable Shaykh? May you be rewarded.
Answer:
This varies; if the man has exposed the evil, then there is no harm in establishing the punishment against him, and he is dealt with according to what he deserves, whether it is the establishment of a fixed punishment (hadd) or a discretionary punishment (ta'zir).
As for if he concealed the evil, then exposing him is not permissible, nor is backbiting him; rather, it is obligatory to cover for him; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 2544Sahih (Darussalam); and due to the saying of Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He): [Surah al-Hujurat: 12].
So the believer covers for his brother and does not expose him as long as the sins are hidden. But if he exposes the evil and openly defies Allah in combat, then there is no harm in his matter becoming public and being reported; so that the Shari'ah fixed punishments or Shari'ah discretionary punishments are established against him, and so that people do not dare to commit sins as he dared.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
We then move on to a letter sent by the questioner Noura from Damascus. She says in this question: If one of us makes a mistake, is it permissible for Muslims to expose his matter and spread it? And what is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding the one who does that, O honorable Shaykh? May you be rewarded.
Answer:
This varies; if the man has exposed the evil, then there is no harm in establishing the punishment against him, and he is dealt with according to what he deserves, whether it is the establishment of a fixed punishment (hadd) or a discretionary punishment (ta'zir).
As for if he concealed the evil, then exposing him is not permissible, nor is backbiting him; rather, it is obligatory to cover for him; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever covers (the sin of) a Muslim, Allah will cover him (his sin) in this world and in the Hereafter.
مَن ستر مسلمًا؛ ستره الله في الدنيا والآخرةor backbite each other
وَلَا يَغْتَبْ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضًاSo the believer covers for his brother and does not expose him as long as the sins are hidden. But if he exposes the evil and openly defies Allah in combat, then there is no harm in his matter becoming public and being reported; so that the Shari'ah fixed punishments or Shari'ah discretionary punishments are established against him, and so that people do not dare to commit sins as he dared.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.