𝗠𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (39)

Defending One’s Brother in His Absence Among the marks of perfect loyalty and complete brotherhood is that you stand as a supporter of your brother both in his presence and in his absence. For abandoning him when he is absent is a deficiency in faith and a betrayal of noble character. It is one of your brother’s rights upon you that you defend him when he is disparaged, and that you refute what is attributed to him of matters you know to be false. If you remain silent, you have forsaken him; but if you champion him, you have honoured yourself and protected it from the disgrace of betrayal. In the Sunan of Abū Dāwūd, with an authentic chain of transmission: ((مَا مِنْ امْرِئٍ يَخْذُلُ امْرَأً مُسْلِمًا فِي مَوْضِعٍ تُنْتَهَكُ فِيهِ حُرْمَتُهُ، وَيُنْتَقَصُ فِيهِ مِنْ عِرْضِهِ، إِلَّا خَذَلَهُ اللهُ فِي مَوْطِنٍ يُحِبُّ فِيهِ نُصْرَتَهُ، وَمَا مِنْ امْرِئٍ يَنْصُرُ مُسْلِمًا فِي مَوْضِعٍ يُنْتَقَصُ فِيهِ مِنْ عَرْضِهِ، وَيُنْتَهَكُ فِيهِ مِنْ حُرْمَتِهِ، إِلَّا نَصَرَهُ اللهُ فِي مَوْطِنٍ يُحِبُّ فِيهِ نُصْرَتَهُ)). “No person who fails a Muslim in a situation in which his honour is violated and his reputation is attacked, except that Allāh will forsake him in a place where he would love to be granted support. And no person who supports a Muslim in a situation in which his reputation is attacked and his sanctity is violated, except that Allāh will support him in a place where he would love to be granted support.” [Narrated by Abū Dāwūd, and the muhaqqiq of Jāmiʿ Al-Uṣūl said: It is a good ḥadīth due to its corroborating reports]. Imām An-Nawawī, may Allāh have mercy on him, said: “Whoever hears the backbiting of a Muslim should refute it and rebuke the one who speaks it. If he does not desist through speech, then he should be deterred by hand; and if he is unable to do so by hand or by tongue, let him leave that gathering.” How excellent are the words of the poet: لا تَهْتِكَنَّ مِنْ مَسَاوِي النَّاسِ مَا سَتَرُوا فَيَهْتِكُ اللهُ سِتْرًا مِنْ مَسَاوِيْكَ وَاذْكُرْ مَحَاسِنَ مَا فِيهِمْ إِذَا ذُكِرُوا وَلَا تَعِبْ أَحَدًا مِنْهُمْ بِمَا فِيكَ Reveal not the faults of people which they have concealed, Lest Allāh expose a fault of yours that you have hidden. And recall their virtues when they are mentioned, And never fault another for what is found within yourself. So, O servant of Allāh , do not withhold from your brother a word of truth that grants him fairness, nor abandon him to the tongues of people who tear at his honour. Otherwise, you will bear the sin of the silent and the burden of the forsakers. Be to him as you would love him to be to you, and remember that whoever defends the honour of his brother, Allāh will shield his face from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection. Let your tongue be a sword of support, not an arrow of betrayal; and let your ear be a barrier against backbiting, not a pathway for it. For whoever magnifies in his heart the brotherhood of faith will never be content that his brother be harmed while he remains silent. Source: https://t.me/nnnnaan/4716