Error-correction has been accomplished either when the
one who issued the mistake admits the mistake or approves of the refutation
against it. At other times, we may know that a fault has been accepted when a
retraction is offered, either in statement or action.
Those who are known to possess knowledge, religious
commitment, have respect for the scholars of the Muslims and exemplify honour
to them, are also known for their lofty manners when seeking to interject to
the mistakes made by scholars. They only seek to bring rectification through the
same example that the scholars before have set.
If one reads something that seems to be incorrect,
then it is a must that the one who perceives a mistake to research and clarify
the meaning of the writer (before making any assumptions). They must place the
piece of writing that they perceive a mistake in into context, because if their
speech is not placed in a context, then this will only ignite bad thoughts of
error towards the writer to which he is innocent of. Having bad thoughts and
whatever leads to it has been made Haraam by Allaah and His Messenger and is
included in the Statement of Allaah, the Most High:
(وَمَنْ يَكْسِبْ خَطِيئَةً أَوْ إِثْماً
ثُمَّ يَرْمِ بِهِ بَرِيئاً فَقَدِ احْتَمَلَ بُهْتَاناً وَإِثْماً مُبِيناً)
(النساء:112)
“And
whoever earns a fault or a sin and then throws it on to someone innocent, he
has indeed burdened himself with falsehood and a manifest sin.” [an-Nisaa
4:112]
Therefore,
having bad thoughts about another, especially if there is no basis, then this is
something that has been made Haraam by Allaah and His Messenger. Surely,
presuming something about another and basing a negative opinion about such a
person on this presumption are from the vices which lead to evils and
corruption to spread, to which Allaah and His Messenger have clearly made
Haraam. In such an instance, the one with the bad thoughts about the other has
not only sinned with such a presumption but has combined this sin with other
severe sins, which is to attribute a lie and a sin to someone who is innocent
of them.
In
extension of such evil consequences, the one with these corrupt presumptions
will increase in his malevolence; it will lead to an influx of hatred and
enmity and a lacking of piety and controlling of ones tongue – all of which
leads to one backbiting, slandering and being envious of others in that which
Allaah has Blessed them from His Bounties and Favours upon them[1].
[1] Backbiting and
discord between the Muslims all stems from ones bad thoughts and of others. It
is the bad thoughts that one has that leads to one acting in an immoral manner
towards others.
Ibn al-Qayyim [may Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “As for having bad
thoughts of others, then this is defined as one filling his heart with negative
perceptions of others. Consequently, this leads to the person who possess bad
thoughts of others to move his tongue and engage in actions in a negative
manner based on the false understanding that he has made for himself. He then
backbites, spreads tales, insults, seeks faults and create enmity towards his
adversary. He creates some to be divided from the rest; some cursing others - leading
to a party warning against another. …the victim is then enveloped with harm…and
the victim leaves those who defame him having resentment, dis-honesty and
enmity towards them.” End quote. [Kitaab ar-Rooh (1/238)] [TN]
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