Nawawi 20-backbiting-gossip-criticism-falsehood

Authentic Hadith pertaining to
BACKBITING, GOSSIP,
CRITICISM, FALSEHOOD, FALSE
EVIDENCE
Extracted from Imam Nawawi’s Reference
“The Gardens of Righteousness”
translated and presented by
Shaykh Ahmad Darwish, Anne (Khadeijah) Stephens
Allah.com Muhammad.com Mosque.com
©1984-2012 Darwish Family. All rights reserved
BOOK 20
HARMFULNESS OF BACKBITING
Allah, the Exalted says:
“Neither spy, nor backbite one another.
Would any of you like to eat the flesh
of his dead brother?
Surely you would loathe it.
Fear Allah, without doubt Allah turns (in Mercy)
and He is the Merciful.” 49:12 Koran
“Do not follow what you do not know.
The hearing, sight and heart -
about all these shall be questioned.” 17:36 Koran
“Whatever phrase he utters,
an observer is present.” 50:18 Koran
SAY GOOD OR BE QUIET
|H 1549
“Whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him say good or
be quiet.”
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the
Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this.
MUSLIM SHOULD NOT HARM ONE ANOTHER

|H 1550
“I (Abu Musa) asked the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be
upon him, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him,
who is the best among Muslims?’ He told me, ‘A Muslim is one who
does not harm another Muslim by his tongue or hands. A migrant is
one who abandons that which Allah has forbidden.’"
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Musa who related that the Messenger of
Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this.
GUARD YOUR TONGUE AND LUSTS
|H 1551
“Whosoever guards the things between his jaws (tongue) and the
thing between his two legs (genitals), I guarantee his entrance to
Paradise.”
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Sahl bin Sa’ad who related that the
BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU SAY
|H 1552
“A person who says a word of thoughtlessness slips into the Fire
farther than the distance between the east and the west."
PLEASING AND DISPLEASING SPEECH
|H 1553
“Sometimes a person says something that pleases Allah through
which he is raised in rank; and sometimes a person says something
which displeases Allah so it takes him to Hell.”
Bukhari with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Messenger of
SEEK THE PLEASURE OF ALLAH
|H 1554
“A man says something, not realizing its significance that pleases
Allah, and because of it Allah records His pleasure for him until the
Day when he will meet Him. Then there is a man who says
something, not realizing its significance, that displeases Allah and
because of it Allah decrees His displeasure for him until the Day
when he will meet Him.”
Malik and Tirmidhi with a chain up to Bilal the son of Harith Muani who related that
the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this.
CONTROL YOUR TONGUE
|H 1555
“I (Sufyan, son of Abdullah) said to the Messenger of Allah, praise
and peace be upon him, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace
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be upon him, tell me something to which I should hold fast.’ He said,
‘Say: My Lord is Allah, then be straight.’ Then I said, ‘O Messenger
of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, what is it that you consider
most injurious to me?’ Then he took hold of his tongue and said,
‘This.’”
Tirmidhi with a chain up to Sufyan, son of Abdullah who related that the Messenger
of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this.
HARDENING OF THE HEART
|H 1556
“Do not indulge in talking a lot without the remembrance of Allah,
because a lot of talk without the remembrance of Allah hardens the
heart and the person farthest from Allah will be the one who has a
hard heart.”
ibn Omar who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him,
said this.
MISCHIEF OF THE BODY
|H 1557
“Whosoever Allah saves from the mischief of what is between his
jaws and thighs will enter Paradise.”
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Sahl son of Sa’ad who related that the
DEFINITION OF SAFETY
|H 1558
“I (Uqbah, the son of 'Amir) asked the Messenger of Allah, praise
and peace be upon him, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace
be upon him, what is safety?’ He answered, ‘Refrain your tongue,
stay in your house and weep over your sins.’"
Tirmidhi with a chain up to Ukbah son of 'Amir who related that the Messenger of
SPEECH OF THE LIMBS
|H 1559
“When the son of Adam gets up in the morning each of his limbs
implore his tongue saying, ‘Fear Allah regarding us, because we
follow you, if you go right we also go right but if you go wrong we
also go wrong.’"
Tirmidhi with a chain up to Abu Sa'id Khudri who related that the Messenger of
THE HARVEST OF THE TONGUE
|H 1560
“I (Mu'az) asked the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon
him, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, tell me
of a deed which will cause me to enter Paradise and keep me away
from the Fire.’ He answered, ‘You have asked about a matter which
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is of great weight but it is easy for one whom Allah makes it easy:
Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him. Establish the
prayer. Pay the obligatory charity. Fast the month of Ramadan.
Perform the pilgrimage to the House.’"
Then he added:
"Shall I inform you of the Gates of Goodness? The fast is a shield.
Charity mitigates sins as water extinguishes fire. Similarly, prayer in
the middle of the night. Then he recited: 'Whose sides forsake their
couches as they supplicate to their Lord in fear and hope; who give
in charity of that which We have given them. No soul knows what
pleases the eye is in store for them as a recompense for what they
used to do.' 32:16-17
Then he added:
‘Shall I tell you of the head of the matter and of its pole, and its
highest hump?’ I said, ‘Certainly, O Messenger of Allah, praise and
peace be upon him." He said, ‘The head of the matter is Islam. Its
pole are prayers and its highest hump is Jihad in the Way of Allah.’
Then he asked:
‘Shall I tell you of that which is the owner of all this?’ I said.
‘Certainly, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him."
Thereupon he took hold of his tongue and said, ‘Keep this under
control.’ I inquired, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be
upon him, shall we be called to account for what we say?’ He
answered, ‘May your mother lose you, people will be thrown face
downwards into Hell only on account of the harvest of the tongue!’"
Tirmidhi with a chain up to Mu'az who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise
and peace be upon him, said this.
BACKBITING AND CALUMNY
|H 1561
“The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, asked, ‘Do
you know what backbiting is?’ The Companions replied, ‘Allah and
His Messenger, praise and peace be upon him, know best.’ He said,
‘Saying something about your brother which he would dislike.’ One
of them asked, ‘But if my brother should be as I say?’ The
Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said, ‘If he
should be as you say then you have been guilty of backbiting and if
he should not be as you say you are guilty of a calumny.’"
Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related the Messenger of Allah, praise
THE FAREWELL SERMON
|H 1562
“Time is running in the same manner as it did on the day Allah
created the heavens and the earth.
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A year has twelve months, four of which are sacred, three are
consecutive; Dhul Qa'ad, Dhul Hajj and Muharram. Rajab falls
between Jumadi and Sha'aban. Then the Prophet, praise and peace
be upon him, Asked, ‘What month is this?’ We replied, ‘Allah and
His Messenger, praise and peace be upon him, know best.’ He
remained silent and we thought he would rename it. Then he said,
‘Isn't it Dhul Hajj?’ We answered, ‘Yes, indeed.’ Then he asked,
‘Which city is this?’ We answered, ‘Allah and His Messenger, praise
and peace be upon him, know best.’ He remained silent and we
thought he would rename it. Then he said, ‘Isn't it the Sacred City?’
We replied, ‘Yes, indeed.’ Then he asked, ‘What day is this?’ We
replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger, praise and peace be upon him,
know best.’ He remained silent and we thought he would rename it.
Then he said, ‘Isn't it the Day of Sacrifice?’ We replied, ‘Yes,
indeed.’ Then he said. ‘Your blood, possessions and honor are as
sacred as this Sacred Day, this City and this Month. Soon you will
meet your Lord and He will call you to account for your deeds. So do
not return to disbelief after I am gone, slaying each other. Let those
present convey this to those who are absent. Perhaps, he who is
told may remember it better than one who hears it today.’ Then he
asked: ‘Have I conveyed the command of Allah; have I conveyed
the command of Allah?’ We replied, ‘Yes.’ Then he supplicated,
‘Allah, bear witness.’”
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Nufai' son of Harith who related that the
IF YOU CAN'T SAY GOOD ABOUT A PERSON DO NOT SAY IT
|H 1563
“I (Lady Ayesha, wife of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with her,
Mother of Believers) said to the Messenger of Allah, praise and
peace be upon him, ‘It is enough for you concerning Safia that she
is such and such.’ The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be
upon him, said, ‘You have uttered a phrase which would suffice to
pollute an ocean.’
Lady Ayesha, related, ‘I mentioned something unpleasant about
someone to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him.
He said, ‘I do not like to be told anything unpleasant about anyone
even in return for so much and so much.’"
Abu Daud and Tirmidhi with a chain up to Lady Ayesha, wife of the Prophet, may
Allah be pleased with her, Mother of Believers who related that the Messenger of
THE CONDITION OF THE BACKBITER
|H 1564
“On the night of my Ascent I passed by some people whose nails
were made of copper and they were scratching their faces and
chests with them. I inquired from Gabriel, ‘Who are those?’ He
replied, ‘These are people who ate the flesh of men and
calumniated their honor.’”
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Abu Daud with a chain up to Anas who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise
A MUSLIM MUST NOT USURP HIS BROTHER'S PROPERTY
|H 1565
“Everything belonging to a Muslim is unlawful for another Muslim;
his blood, honor and his property.”
Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Messenger of Allah,
praise and peace be upon him, said this.
.
PROHIBITION OF LISTENING TO
GOSSIP
“Who turn away from idle talk …” 23:3 Koran
“..... The hearing, sight and heart -
about all these shall be questioned.” 17:36 Koran
“When you see those who plunge (scoffing) into Our verses,
withdraw from them till they plunge into some other talk.
If satan causes you to forget,
leave the wrongdoing people as soon as you remember.”
6:68 Koran
PREVENTION OF DISHONORING FELLOW MUSLIMS
|H 1566
“Whosoever stops that which dishonors his brother, Allah will shield
his face against the Fire on the Day of Judgement.”
Tirmidhi with a chain up to Abu Darda' who related that the Messenger of Allah,
THE PROPHET, praise and peace be upon him, AND THE
PERSON ACCUSED OF HYPOCRISY
|H 1567
“It was my (Itban, the son of Malik) practice to join my tribe, the Bani
Salim in prayer, however, between them was a valley prone to
floods, which, once flooded became difficult for me to make the
crossing to the Mosque. So I went to the Messenger of Allah, praise
and peace be upon him, and said, ‘My eyesight is poor and I find it
difficult to cross over the valley that separates me from my tribe
when it is flooded. I would like it very much if you would come to my
house and pray inside it so that I may assign that part as my place
of prayer.’ The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him,
agreed. The next day, when the sun had risen high the Messenger
of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, came to my house with Abu
Bakr and asked for permission to enter, which I gave. He asked me,
‘Where do you wish me to pray?’ So I pointed out the place to him.
6

He stood for prayer and commenced with Allah is Great (the Takbir)
and they lined up behind him. He prayed two units (rak'a) of prayer
and they prayed behind him. After he had finished the prayer, I
offered him some food prepared from sugar, milk and finely ground
flour. When my neighbors heard that the Messenger of Allah, praise
and peace be upon him, was in my house they gathered there in
large numbers. Someone asked, ‘What has happened to Malik, the
son of Dakhsahm?’ Another said, ‘He is not here.’ Then another
said, ‘He is a hypocrite. He does not love Allah and His Messenger,
praise and peace be upon him.’ Upon hearing this the Messenger of
Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said, ‘Do not say that, don't
you know that he has said: There is no god except Allah; seeking
only the pleasure of Allah?’ The man said, ‘Allah and His
Messenger, praise and peace be upon him, know best, but as for us
we see that his friendship and conversation are confined to the
hypocrites.’ The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him,
said, ‘Allah will protect whosoever bears witness that there is no god
except Allah, seeking with it only the pleasure of Allah from the
Fire.’"
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Itban son of Malik who related that the
WHEN IT IS PERMISSIBLE TO
CRITICIZE
SELF CRITICISM
|H 1788
“None of you should say, ‘My soul has become evil.' Rather, he
should say, 'My soul has become hardened.'”
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Lady Ayesha, wife of the Prophet, may Allah
be pleased with her, Mother of Believers who related that the Messenger of Allah,
STATUS
|H 1569
“A man asked permission to see the Messenger of Allah, praise and
peace be upon him, whereupon the Messenger of Allah, praise and
peace be upon him, said, ‘Let him come in, he is the worst of his
family.’"
A MATTER OF FAITH
|H 1570
“I do not think that so and so, and so and so, understands anything
of our faith.”
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Bukhari with a chain up to Lady Ayesha, wife of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased
with her, Mother of Believers related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace
be upon him, said this.
CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE
1571
“I (Fatima the daughter of Kais) went to the Messenger of Allah,
praise and peace be upon him, and said to him, ‘Abu Jahm and
Mu'awiah have proposed marriage to me.’ The Messenger of Allah,
praise and peace be upon him, said, ‘Mu'awiah, is poor and has no
property, as for Abu Jahm, he always keeps his stick on his
shoulder.’"
“Abu Jahm is given to beating women; and it has also been said that
he spent most of his time traveling.”
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Fatima the daughter of Kais who related that
the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this. Last paragraph
transmitted by Muslim the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said
this.
HYPOCRITES REVEALED
|H 1573
“I (Zaid, the son of Arqam) said, ‘We went on an expedition with the
Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, which was hard
on the people. During it Abdullah, the son of Ubayy said, ‘Do not
spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah, praise and
peace be upon him, in case they disperse.’ He also said, ‘If we
return to Medina, the most honorable one will drive out the one who
is the most mean.’ I went to the Messenger of Allah, praise and
peace be upon him, and informed him of this and he sent for
Abdullah son of Ubayy, who denied on oath having said it. The
people began to say, ‘Zaid has lied to the Prophet, praise and peace
be upon him.’ I was very upset by this until sura Al-Munafiqun
(Chapter 63, The Hypocrites) was sent down. Then the Messenger
of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, sent for the hypocrites so
that he might ask forgiveness for them but they turned their heads
away out of arrogance.’"
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Zaid the son of Arqam who related this.
CRITICIZING BECAUSE OF NECESSITY
|H 1574
“Hind, wife of Abu Sufyan, said to the Messenger of Allah, praise
and peace be upon him, ‘Abu Sufyan is miserly and does not give
me enough to suffice me and my children unless I take something
from his property without his knowledge.’ The Messenger of Allah,
praise and peace be upon him, said, ‘Take enough to suffice you
and your children according to what is usual.’"
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MISCHIEF MAKING
Allah, the Exalted, says:
“The backbiter who goes about slandering.” 68:11 Koran
“Whatever phrase he utters, an observer is present.” 50:18 Koran
TALE TELLING
|H 1575
“Whosoever tells tales will not enter Paradise.”
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Huzaifah who related that the Messenger of
PUNISHMENT IN THE TOMB BECAUSE OF TELLING TALES
|H 1576
The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, passed by
two graves and said, ‘These two are being punished not because of
a great matter, but indeed they are great sins. One of them told
tales, and the other would not screen himself when urinating.’"
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to ibn Abbas who related that the Messenger of
MEANING OF 'ADHA'
|H 1577
“Shall I tell you what 'adha' is? It is spreading tale telling.”
Muslim with a chain up to ibn Mas'ud who related that the Messenger of Allah,
RELAYING INVALID TALES TO THE
AUTHORITIES
“..... and cooperate in righteousness
and warding off (evil),
and do not cooperate in sinfulness and transgression.” 5:2 Koran
DO NOT CONVEY UNPLEASANT THINGS
|H 1578
“No Companion of mine should convey to me anything against
another because when I meet you I love that my chest be sound.”
Abu Daud and Tirmidhi with a chain up to ibn Mas'ud who related that the
CONDEMNATION OF BEING TWO-
FACED
“They seek to hide themselves from the people,
9

but they do not hide themselves from Allah
for He is with them when they hide
the saying that does not please Him.” 4:108 Koran
DEFINITION OF A TWO-FACED PERSON
|H 1579
“You will find people of descent among you; those who were best in
the Days of Ignorance will be best in Islam if they understand the
Religion. You will find the best people among those in authority are
those who detest two-faced people – they are the worst of people,
approaching one person with one face and another with a different
face.”
SPEAKING TO RULERS
|H 1580
“I (Muhammad, the son of Zaid) said, ‘Some people said to his
grandfather: 'Abdullah, the son of Omar, 'We visit our rulers and say
things to them that are contrary to that which we say when we leave
them.' Abdullah answered, 'In the time of the Messenger of Allah,
praise and peace be upon him, we considered this hypocrisy.'"
Bukhari with a chain up to Muhammad the son of Zaid who related this.
CONDEMNATION OF FALSEHOOD
“Do not follow what you do not know......” 17:36 Koran
“Whatever phrase he utters, an observer is present.” 50:18 Koran
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU CALL ANOTHER
|H 1781
“When a man addresses his brother with, 'O unbeliever' one of them
will certainly deserve the title. If the person who is addressed is one,
he is, or else it will revert to the person who uttered it."
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to ibn Omar who related that the Messenger of
BE SURE OF WHAT YOU SAY
|H 1782
“If any of you calls another an unbeliever or an enemy of Allah, and
that person is not, the title will revert to the one who uttered it."
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Dharr who related that the Messenger
of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this.
TRUTH LEADS TO PARADISE, LIES LEAD TO HELL
|H 1581
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“Truth guides to virtue and virtue guides to Paradise. A person who
continuously tells the truth is called truthful in the Sight of Allah.
Lying leads to vice and vice leads to the Fire. When someone lies
continuously in the Sight of Allah that person is called a liar."
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abdullah son of Mas'ud who related that the
FOUR SIGNS OF HYPOCRISY
|H 1582
“There are four qualities which, if they are found in a person, prove
him to be a hypocrite. If a person has one of them, he has that
quality of hypocrisy until he rids himself of it. They are: When he is
entrusted with something he embezzles. When he speaks he lies.
When he promises he breaks his promise. When he quarrels he is
abusive.”
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abdullah, the son of Amr son of Al 'As who
related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this.
LYING, EAVESDROPPING, PORTRAIT PAINTING
|H 1583
“Whosoever relates he has a vision which he has not seen, will be
called upon on the Day of Judgement to tie a knot between two
grains of barley. Whosoever eavesdrops upon a people will have
molten lead poured into his ears upon the Day of Judgement.
Whosoever paints a portrait of a person will be punished and will be
called upon to breathe into it a soul which he will not be capable of
doing.”
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to ibn Abbas who related that the Messenger of
IMPOSTER
|H 1584
“The greatest imposter is a person who says that he has seen
something with his eyes that he has not seen.”
Bukhari with a chain up to ibn Omar who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise
VISIONS OF PARADISE AND HELL
|H 1585
“The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, would
often inquire from his companions: ‘Have any of you seen a vision?’
Then whoever had would relate his vision to him.
One morning the Messenger of Allah praise and peace be upon him,
told us, ‘Last night two people came to me in a vision and said:
Come with us. So I accompanied them and we came across a man
lying on his back while another stood near his head, striking him on
his head with a stone. After the stone had struck the person on his
11

head it rolled away from him and the striker went after the stone,
picked it up and returned with it. In the meantime the head of the
person who had been struck recovered from his injury and the
striker hit him again. I asked my two companions: Exalted is Allah,
who is this? But they said: Proceed, proceed.
Then we came to another man lying on his back while another stood
near him with a hooked bar of iron in his hand. He approached him
from one side and ripped his mouth open right down to his neck,
then, he ripped open his nostril down to his neck and tore open his
eye down to his neck. Then he turned to his other side and did the
same. By which time the first side of the man's face had recovered
from its injuries and the tormentor returned to the first side and
repeated what he had done to it the first time. I asked my
companions: Exalted is Allah, what are these two doing? But they
said: Proceed, proceed.
Then we went on and arrived near a pit which was like an oven out
of which came cries. We glanced into it and saw naked men and
women who cried out as the flames from below reached them. I
asked my companions: Exalted is Allah, who are these? But they
said: ‘Proceed, proceed.
Then we proceeded until we arrived at a stream the water of which
was red like blood and there was a man was swimming in it. On the
bank of the stream was another who had gathered many pieces of
rock. When the swimmer approached him, he would strike him with
a rock which would smash his face and he would start swimming
again and as he approached the bank once more the man on the
bank would strike him with a rock which smashed his face. I asked
my companions: Exalted is Allah, who are these two? But they
replied: Proceed, proceed. So we proceeded until we came upon a
terribly ugly person near a blazing fire which he kept circling. I asked
my two companions: ‘Exalted is Allah, who is that? But they said:
Proceed, proceed.
We proceeded until we reached a Garden full of spring flowers and
in the middle of the garden was a man so tall I could not see his
head, it was as if it was hidden in the sky and around him were so
many children the number of which I had never seen before.
I asked my companions: Exalted is Allah, who are these? But they
said: Proceed, proceed.
After this we arrived at a tree which was so enormous, I have never
seen any so big nor so beautiful and my companions asked me to
climb it. We climbed it and saw a city built with alternate gold and
silver bricks. When we reached the gate of the city we asked for the
gate to be opened and it was opened for us so we entered. In it we
saw people, half of their bodies were most beautiful bodies you
could ever imagine yet their other half was the most ugly. There was
a stream flowing through the middle of the city, the water of which
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was pure white. My companions said to the people: Go, plunge into
the stream, so they did. When they came out their ugliness had
disappeared and they had become very beautiful.
My two companions told me: This is the Garden of Eden and that is
your residence. I raised my eyes and saw a palace like a white
cloud and they repeated: That is your residence. I said to them: May
Allah bless you both, now let me enter it. But they said: ‘Not just yet
but without doubt you will certainly enter it.
I said to my companions: Tonight I have witnessed many strange
things. What are the meanings? They said: Now we shall tell you.
The first person you saw whose head was being struck with a stone
was the one who had committed the Koran to his memory and then
forgotten it and neglected the obligated prayers.
The person whose mouth, nostrils and eyes were being ripped open
to the neck was one who ran from his home spreading lies which
circulated throughout the world.
The men and women in the oven were adulterers and adulteresses.
The man you saw swimming in the stream being stoned was one
who earned interest on his money.
The ugly person near the Fire was Malik, the Guardian of Hell.
The very tall man in the Garden was Abraham and the children
around him were those who died upright."
One of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, praise and
peace be upon him, asked him, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and
peace be upon him, were any of the children, the children of
unbelievers?’ The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon
him, said, ‘Yes, and the children of the unbelievers. Those who were
half handsome and half ugly were people who had done both good
and bad deeds and Allah pardoned them.’”
We are also informed:
Last night two men who took me to the Holy Land (and the account
proceeds as in the version above and continues:) We arrived at a pit
like an oven, the upper part of which was narrow, and the lower was
wide and inside it was a raging fire. As the flames rose the inmates
also rose until they were about to emerge from it and when the
flames went down they too went down with them. All the men and
women in were naked. Then we arrived at a stream flowing with
blood and a man stood in the middle of it and there was another on
a bank with a pile of stones in front of him. The one in the middle
wanted to get out of the stream but when he tried, the one on the
bank struck him with a stone on his face that pushed him back to
where he had come from. This happened every time he tried to get
13

out.
Then the two climbed a tree along with me and caused me to enter
a house better than any I have ever seen before in which there were
men old and young.
After this I was told: The one you saw with his cheeks ripped open
was a liar whose lies were repeated until they reached all parts of
the earth. He will be remain like this until the Day of Judgement.
As for the one you saw whose head was smashed, he was a man
whom Allah had taught the Koran and then slept during the night
ignoring it and would not act upon it during the day. He will remain
like this until the Day of Judgement.
The first house that you entered was the dwelling of the believers
and the last you saw was the house of the martyrs. I am Gabriel and
this is my companion Michael. Now raise your head. As I raised my
head I saw something like a cloud above me and I was told:
This is your dwelling. I said: Leave me to enter my dwelling.
However they informed me: You have still a portion of your life
which you have not completed. After it is completed you will enter
your dwelling."
Bukhari with a chain up to Samurah, the son of Jundab who related that the
JUSTIFICATION FOR FALSEHOOD
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
(WHITE LIES)
LYING
|H 1586
“The liar is not the one who reforms between people that he may
deliver statements of good or say good.
She (Umm Kulthoom) added, ‘I did not hear him make it permissible
except in three cases: He meant war, reforming between people,
and the talk of a man to his wife and a wife to her husband.’"
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Umm Kulthoom, may Allah be pleased with
her, said that she heard the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him,
say this.
BEING SURE BEFORE SAYING OR
REPORTING
“Do not follow what you do not know.” 17:36 Koran
14

“Whatever he utters, an observer is present.” 50:18 Koran
LIARS
|H 1587
“It is sufficient to make a man a liar when he reports all that he
hears.”
Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that the Messenger of Allah,
ATTRIBUTING A FALSE STATEMENT TO THE PROPHET, praise
and peace be upon him
|H 1588
“Whosoever attributes something to me which he knows is false is
one of the liars.”
Muslim with a chain up to Samurah who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise
PRETENDING TO HAVE SOMETHING YOU DO NOT
|H 1589
“A woman asked the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, ‘O
Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, I have a co-
wife. Would it be sinful if I were to pretend that my husband had
given me something which he had not given me?’ He answered:
‘Whoever pretends to have received something which was not given
him is like the one who wears two cloaks of falsehood.’"
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Asma' who related that the Messenger of
FALSE EVIDENCE
“And whosoever venerates the sacred rites of Allah
it shall be better for him with his Lord.” 22:30 Koran
“Do not follow what you do not know.” 17:36 Koran
“Whatever he utters, an observer will be present.” 50:18 Koran
“Indeed, your Lord is ever watchful.” 89:14 Koran
“and those who do not bear false witness,
and when they pass by idle talk, pass by with honor.” 25:72 Koran
MAJOR SINS
|H 1590
“Shall I tell you what major sins are? (he asked this three times). We
said, ‘Certainly, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon
him.’ He said, ‘Association of others with Allah. Disobeying your
15

parents - until that point he had been leaning on a pillow, then
suddenly he sat up - telling a lie, and giving false testimony. He
repeated this last (sin) so many times that we wished he would
stop.”
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Bakarah Nufai' the son of Harith who
related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this.
GOSSIP
|H 629
“The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, did not indulge in
gossip, neither did he listen to it. He used to say, ‘The best of you
are those who have the best character.’"
Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abdullah, the son of Amr son of Al 'As who
related this.
16

INDEX
BACKBITING, GOSSIP, CRITICISM,
FALSEHOOD, FALSE EVIDENCE
BOOK 20
HARMFULNESS OF BACKBITING
KORAN
SAY GOOD OR BE QUIET
MUSLIM SHOULD NOT HARM ONE ANOTHER
GUARD YOUR TONGUE AND LUSTS
BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU SAY
PLEASING AND DISPLEASING SPEECH
SEEK THE PLEASURE OF ALLAH
CONTROL YOUR TONGUE
HARDENING OF THE HEART
MISCHIEF OF THE BODY
DEFINITION OF SAFETY
SPEECH OF THE LIMBS
THE HARVEST OF THE TONGUE
BACKBITING AND CALUMNY
THE FAREWELL SERMON
IF YOU CAN'T SAY GOOD ABOUT A PERSON DO NOT SAY IT
THE CONDITION OF THE BACKBITER
A MUSLIM MUST NOT USURP HIS BROTHER'S PROPERTY
.
PROHIBITION OF LISTENING TO
GOSSIP
KORAN
PREVENTION OF DISHONORING FELLOW MUSLIMS
THE PROPHET, praise and peace be upon him, AND THE
PERSON ACCUSED OF HYPOCRISY
WHEN IT IS PERMISSIBLE TO
CRITICIZE
SELF CRITICISM
STATUS
17

A MATTER OF FAITH
CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE
HYPOCRITES REVEALED
CRITICIZING BECAUSE OF NECESSITY
MISCHIEF MAKING
KORAN
TALE TELLING
PUNISHMENT IN THE TOMB BECAUSE OF TELLING TALES
MEANING OF 'ADHA'
RELAYING INVALID TALES TO THE
AUTHORITIES
KORAN
DO NOT CONVEY UNPLEASANT THINGS
CONDEMNATION OF BEING TWO-
FACED
KORAN
DEFINITION OF A TWO-FACED PERSON
SPEAKING TO RULERS
CONDEMNATION OF FALSEHOOD
KORAN
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU CALL ANOTHER
BE SURE OF WHAT YOU SAY
TRUTH LEADS TO PARADISE, LIES LEAD TO HELL
FOUR SIGNS OF HYPOCRISY
LYING, EAVESDROPPING, PORTRAIT PAINTING
IMPOSTER
VISIONS OF PARADISE AND HELL
JUSTIFICATION FOR FALSEHOOD
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
(WHITE LIES)
LYING
BEING SURE BEFORE SAYING OR
REPORTING
KORAN
LIARS
ATTRIBUTING A FALSE STATEMENT TO THE PROPHET, praise
and peace be upon him
PRETENDING TO HAVE SOMETHING YOU DO NOT
FALSE EVIDENCE
18

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