TAMBIHUL GHAAFILEEN - ADMONITION FOR THE NEGLECTFUL
by Faqih Abul Laith Samarqandi

10. LYING

A SAYING OF HADHRA T LUQMAAN (A.S).

Someone asked Hadhrat Luqmaan (A.S), "How did you achieve this high rank?" He replied, "By means of truthfulness, trustworthiness and abstaining from futility."

SIX THINGS GUARANTEE JANNAH.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, "Guarantee six things for me and I will guarantee Jannah for you in exchange viz.

1. Always speak the truth.
2. Fulfil promises to the best of your ability.
3. Do not betray anyone´s trust.
4. Protect your private organs.
5. Keep your gazes lowered.
6. Restrain your hands from oppression."

Truthfulness, fulfilling of promises and guarding trusts are all actions that relate to Allah and man as well. Truthfulness to Allah means that a person admits to Allah´s Oneness and recites the Kalimah with sincerity. Saying anything untrue constitutes lying to people, and cannot be condoned.

It is also compulsory for people to fulfil the pledge that they took with Allah before time (i.e. the pledge to accept Allah as their Rabb.) As far as possible, man should fulfil the pledges and promises that he makes to another person.

Imaan, the faraaidh and all the commands of Allah are trusts that Allah has placed in the custody of people. They should ensure that they fulfil these. Similarly, the trusts and secrets that people are entrusted with should also be duly kept with diligence.

Protection of the private parts: Private parts here refer to the entire area between the navel and the knees for males, and the entire body for females, excluding the hands and feet. This is of two categories:

The first is that one safeguards them from being used for sinful purposes like adultery.

The second is that a person ensures that no other person sees it. Allah´s curse is on the person who sees the private portion of another, as well as on the person who allows his / her private parts to be seen (this refers to those people who cannot see each other in terms of the shari´ah). Of course, others may see these at times of extreme necessity.

Lowering the gazes: This is also necessary so that a person does not inadvertently see the private parts of another or a person (who is not a mahram to them.) It is also necessary so that people´s gazes do not fall on the things of this world, thereby enticing one towards these.

Restraining the hand: This refers to acquiring wealth by haraam means and oppressing people. A taabi´ee has mentioned, "Truthfulness is the beauty of the pious, while lying is the trait of the wretched."

11. BACKBITING

SPOKEN ILL OF SOMEONE

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has mentioned, "Backbiting means that you say something of your brother in his absence that he would not like." Someone asked, "What if the fact mentioned is really in him?"

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) replied, "Then it is backbiting. If the fact is not in him, then it would constitute slander, which is worse than backbiting."

It has been mentioned that if it is said about someone, that his garb is too high or too low, then this will also be regarded as backbiting.

A short woman once came to Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). After she left, Hadhrat A´isha (R.A) commented on her height. Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, Oh A´isha! This is backbiting because you have spoken ill of her."

THE STENCH OF BACKBITING CANNOT BE SMELT WHEN IT BECOMES HABITUAL.

Someone asked a saint, "Why is it that the stench of backbiting was smelt during the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam), but is not evident today?" He replied, "Backbiting has become so common nowadays that it´s stench has disappeared. The example is like how a toilet cleaner and a tanner become so accustomed to the stench of faces and raw leather, that they can eat quite comfortably in their environments whereas other will find it difficult to even stand there for a moment. This is how backbiting has taken vogue today."

A GIFT IN RETURN FOR EVIL.

Someone told Hadhrat Hassan Basri (R.A) that a certain person had gossiped about him. Hearing this, Hadhrat Hassan (R.A) sent a box of fresh dates to the person with the message, "I have come to learn that you have given me the rewards of your good actions. I have sent this small gift in appreciation. Please forgive me for not returning the favour in full."

A SAYING OF HADHRAT IBRAHEEM BIN ADHAM (R.A)

Hadhrat Ibraheem bin Adham (R.A) once invited some people for a meal. When they sat down to eat, they began speaking about someone. He told them, "People in the past used to eat the bread before their meat. However, you people have begun eating the meat before the bread (i.e. by backbiting). Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has assimilated backbiting as eating the flesh of a Muslim."

Hadhrat Ibraheem (R.A) once said, "Oh liars! You have been miserly towards your friends with regard to the world (i.e. you have not spent on their necessities). However, you have been extremely generous towards your enemies with regard to the Hereafter (i.e. by giving them all the rewards of your good actions when backbiting about them). You have no excuse for this miserliness, nor will you be praised for this generosity."

THREE THINGS DESTROY GOOD ACTIONS.

Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has mentioned that three things destroy the radiance and rewards of good actions.

1. Lying,
2. carrying tales and
3. Looking at the private parts of another person.

These acts irrigate the roots of evil just like water irrigates the roots of trees.

THREE THINGS ARE DISTANT FROM MERCY.

Allah´s mercy is far from that gathering wherein three things are found (viz.)

1. Worldly talks,
2. laughter and
3. Backbiting.

THREE QUALITIES OF THE PIOUS

Hadhrat Yahya bin Mu´aadh (R.A) says, "If you possess three qualities, you will be regarded as those who are righteous viz.

1. If you cannot be of benefit to anyone, then do not harm them.
2. If you cannot make anyone happy, then do not cause them sadness.
3. If you cannot speak well of anyone, then do not speak ill of them."

THE ATTITUDE OF THE ANGELS TOWARDS BACKBITING.

Hadhrat Mujaahid (R.A) said that whenever a person speaks well of another, the angels who remain with him say, "May Allah keep the two of you alike." When he speaks ill of him, they say, "You have disclosed the faults of your brother. Look at yourself and thank Allah that he has not disclosed your faults."

WORDS OF WISDOM DO 3 IF YOU CANNOT DO 3.

"Oh man! If you cannot do three things, then you should do another three.

1. If you cannot behave well towards anyone, then restrain yourself from behaving badly towards them.
2. If you cannot be of benefit to anyone, then guard them from your evil.
3. If you cannot fast, then refrain from eating their flesh (i.e. do not backbite).