Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: “Avoid much suspicion, for some suspicion is a sin.” Does this mean that this prohibition includes the open sinner among the Muslims?
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The questioner : Another question: Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: [Al-Hujurat 49:12]; does this mean that this prohibition includes the open sinner among the Muslims?
The Shaykh : It covers the open sinner among the Muslims.
The questioner : I mean, does...
The student : 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. Furthermore, 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 one who is known for some open sinfulness and one who is not known for it. However, the important point is that one should not assume something is certain based merely on a doubtful matter or mere hearsay, as we know from his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):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 covers the open sinner among the Muslims.
The questioner : I mean, does...
The student : 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. Furthermore, 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 one who is known for some open sinfulness and one who is not known for it. However, the important point is that one should not assume something is certain based merely on a doubtful matter or mere hearsay, as we know from his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Beware of Zann (suspicion), for indeed Zann is the falsest of speech.
إيَّاكم والظَّنَّ ؛ فإن الظَّنَّ أكذَبُ الحديثِ
Source
www.al-albany.com
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