CONCEALING OTHERS' FAULTS

Sign of Good Character

ACCORDING to a Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad has said: “For whoever conceals the faults of another, God will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

This Hadith forbids using someone’s faults in order to defame the person. It forbids talking about a person’s faults to unrelated people in order to spoil the image. On the other hand, helping someone improve or reform is the duty of every person of faith. As another Hadith says: “A believer is like a mirror for another believer.” (Sunan Abu Dawud). It means that if a person has a certain fault or shortcoming, one should tell him about it in a compassionate manner.

If you see or hear about a fault in someone, you could do one of two things. You could keep this fact in your heart and not speak about it to anyone. Or, you could meet this person yourself, and in a spirit of compassion and genuine concern for reform, speak to the person about it. This method helps promote positivity, in individuals and in the society at large.

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If you go about trying to find faults in others and gossip about them, it is tantamount to what is called ‘character assassination’.

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As opposed to this, if you go about trying to find faults in others and gossip about them, it is tantamount to what is called ‘character assassination’.

If you have differences with somebody, you could respond to the person by providing evidences to support your stance. But to pick on personal faults and defame the person amongst other people is wrong and hypocritical.