committed more sins than him.’ Further, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would say, ‘Make such an act compulsory for you that makes you deserving of reward if you carry it out, and if you do not carry it out, you become a sinner and avoid such acts which if you carry out, you do not get any reward and if it is left, you become a sinner.’ He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was asked, ‘What act is that?’ He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه replied, ‘To have bad opinions of people, because if your opinion is correct, you will not get reward for it, but if it is wrong, you will become a sinner.’

Dear Islamic brothers! Look at the great eminence of those who love Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! How they continue refraining from the ill suspicion of Muslims and always had good opinions for others! If only we are privileged to have good thoughts about Muslims whilst refraining from evil suspicions.

یٰۤاَ یُّہَا  الَّذِیۡنَ   اٰمَنُو ا  اجۡتَنِبُوۡ ا کَثِیۡرً ا   مِّنَ  ا لظَّنِّ  ۫    اِنَّ   بَعۡضَ  ا لظَّنِّ    اِثۡمٌ

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: O People who Believe! Avoid excessive assumptions; indeed assumption sometimes becomes a sin.

(Part 26, Surah Al-Hujurat, verse 12)

Commenting on the abovementioned verse while describing the cause of declaring sins as some assumptions, Imam Fakhruddin Raazi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: Because (sometimes) a person’s action looks bad, but in fact, it proves contrary. Perhaps that person is doing it in forgetfulness or the one who sees it could be at fault. (Tafseer Kabeer, vol. 10, pp. 110)

مجھے غیبت و چُغلی و بد گمانی                کی آفات سے تُو بچا یا الٰہی

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب       صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Israelite worshipper and a sinner

A person from the Bani Israel who was a grave sinner, passed by a great worshipper (who always had clouds above his head for shade). That sinner thought to himself that I am a grave sinner of the Bani Israel whereas this