action. For example, if you see an Islamic brother crying while reciting a Na’t or delivering a Bayan, and a thought enters your heart that he is showing off, then immediately form a good opinion that he is crying sincerity. The Taabi’i, Sayyiduna Sa’eed Bin Musayyab رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states: Some of my brothers from the companions of the Prophet رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم wrote to me and said, ‘Interpret the actions of your Muslim brother in a good light until a dominant proof in opposition to it is not presented, and do not have a bad opinion of any word that leaves the mouth of a Muslim brother as long as you can interpret it in a good way, and the one who presents himself to be accused should not blame anyone apart from himself.’ (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 6, p. 323, Hadith 8345)

3. Become pious yourself so that other appear to be pious

Continue efforts for your own rectification, because the one who is pious himself will also have a virtuous opinion of others, whereas, the bad person only sees the bad in others. An Arabic proverb states: ‘اِذَا سَاءَ فِعْلُ الْمَرْءِ سَاءَ تْ ظُنُوْنُہٗ’, i.e. ‘When a person’s actions become evil, his thinking also becomes evil.’ (Fayd-ul-Qadeer, vol. 3, p. 157)

4. Make Du’a of goodness

Whenever a bad opinion of a Muslim arises in your heart, make Du’a for him and increase in your honour and respect for him. Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states: Whenever a bad opinion of someone arises in your heart, you should increase in your honour for him and make Du’a of goodness for him, for this angers Satan and causes him to run from you. Like this, Satan will fear placing a bad opinion in your heart again, lest you become engaged in honouring your brother and making Du’a for him.’ (Ihya-ul-Uloom, vol. 3, p. 187)

5. Adopt good company

Avoid bad company and adopt good company; alongside receiving