Conveying false speech about someone's honor without evidence

29-4-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

My friend's husband was involved in an extra marital affair. She told me and I told my husband with her permission because he was my friend's husband. But she said that her husband should not know that she has told this to me n my husband. As our husbands are very close friends. One day my husband told me that may b his friend(the same one) has not stopped of cheating her..I told this to her requesting her that you will not ask anything before any proof. But unexpectedly she told hr husband that we told her that her husband is talking to somebody else. This made the relationship of both the families very tense. My husband and her husband were very good friends.now he is not talking to my husband.And for this reason my husband is not happy with me. Most of the times fighting with me. I have apologized also that I was the one who told his wife about his affair..but my husband is not forgetting it. He says his friend is not talking to him because of me..Asraghfirullah.. wot should I do in this case now.. plz tell me..as this everyday fighting is getting on my nerves.. Allah bless u..

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, we would like to point out that entering into false discourse about the honor of others on grounds of suspicion alone is a grave and serious matter. It is a plain sin and perilous action to do so without clear evidence. Please refer to Fataawa 87225 and 85285.

In fact, even if it is proven that a Muslim has committed a disgraceful act, then in principle, the misdeed is to be concealed, and he is not be exposed for no certain benefit. In addition, if a Muslim is entrusted with a secret, it is impermissible to disclose it.

Non-adherence to such religious limits and rules leads to a state of disorder, incurs Fitnah (tribulation) and severs relations between people. Your current situation is evidence of this. Hence, it is incumbent on all of you to turn back to Allaah, the Exalted, in repentance. The conditions of repentance have been underlined in Fatwa 86527.

Moreover, everyone who this man knows was involved in false speech concerning his honor should seek pardon from him; however, those who libeled him and he did not know of it should supplicate Allaah on his behalf because informing him of that often incurs harm.

On the other hand, you should strive to reconcile because discord is an evil. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking means to the approval of Allaah - then We are going to give him a great reward.} [Quran 4:114] Moreover, Abu Ad-Dardaa’  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Shall I inform you of what is more virtuous than the rank of fasting, prayer, and charity?” The people replied, “Yes.” The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Reconciling people; and beware of spoiling people’s relations for it is destructive - it strips you (of your religiosity).” [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi]

Allaah Knows best.

www.islamweb.net