Page 44 - Character Types of the Unbelievers

CHARACTER-TYPES OF THE UNBELIEVERS
inform the person in question. But if the matter is discussed by
everyone, and the person being criticized is not informed, it cannot
be said that there is any underlying good intention or intelligent
purpose. Moreover, the individuals doing the gossiping are aware

that the same thing would certainly happen to them because it is a
common practice of ignorant societies. But they would certainly de-
test it. When they hear that other people have been talking about
them, they are very upset by it. But, though fraught with such over-
sensitivity, they will nevertheless behave terribly towards others
without caring whether they are hurting anyone.
However, Allah has forbidden human beings from gossiping.

He explains to us in the Qur’an that gossiping is not part of a good
moral character, and if there is something wrong, He commands
that the offending person be told by “enjoining the good and forbid-
ding the evil”:
You who believe! Avoid most suspicion. Indeed some sus-
picion is a crime. And do not spy and do not backbite one
another. Would any of you like to eat his brother’s dead
flesh? No, you would hate it. And fear Allah. Allah is Ever-
Returning, Most Merciful. (Surat al-Hujurat, 12)

So, according to this command of the Qur’an, believers never
criticize another person behind their back. They know that one of
the greatest signs of real love and friendship is to act in such a way
as to be of benefit to another person both in this life and the next. If
they see a person behaving incorrectly, they will immediately tell
them, and urge them to make up for their mistake. This is the basis
of real friendship and loyalty. But, in a society of ignorance, the

dearest relationships, like marriage, are not based on sound founda-

42