Assalamu'alaikum/hello to all,
Negative Thoughts
We as human always like to judge other people. Having said that, we are not aware that having a bad opinion about others is harmful to brotherhood. It can also injure our own spiritual growth.
There are three things that are essential to become a good Muslim, if not better:
1. Relationship with Allah.
2. Relationship with other people.
3. Relationship with the environment.
Thus, the effect of negative thoughts to others may loosen the bond between our friends, or even our family. We need to be aware of this because we do not live in this world alone. We have other people around. Please do care about other people's feeling as well.
I would like to quote from a book by Hamza Yusuf entitled Purification of the Heart:
Scholars have advised that one should even beware of forming conclusions based on the bad appearances of people, for it could be that God veils their goodness from others.
In the Qur'an, Allah says: O you who believe, avoid suspicion, for some suspicion is sinful (Qur'an, 49:12).
The prophet (pbuh) said: "Beware of a bad opinion because it is the most false of speech."
However, Imam Mawlud says that it is not forbidden to have doubts about someone's character if it it based on REASON and OBSERVABLE EVIDENCE. This is important because when such person give us some news, we do not believe them straight away as the news might not be true. Make note that suspicion without proof or little evidence tends to be judgemental, and thus it is not allowed in Islam.
Well, in my opinion, even if you have doubts about other people, please keep it to yourself. Do not spread it until it has proven to be true. Do not backbiting other people, that is, speaking ill of another person behind his/her back. Better keep your mouth shut rather than talking about others.
Salam,
toriq
|
