well or not?” Asking this question without a reason sanctioned by sharīʿah, is also considered to be searching for faults in people. The employer may then fall into sin by responding with, “He is lazy”, or “He does not earn his wage lawfully”, etc.

*   Without a valid reason provided by sharīʿah, to follow someone in search of their shortcomings and look into their home etc. is also a form of tajassus.

Two rulings related to tajassus

1.   It is haram to seek the faults of a Muslim.

2.   When seeking to employ someone or deciding upon a suitable marriage partner, it is not forbidden to find out things about them, but only to a necessary extent.^[1]

Seeking the faults of Muslims is highly condemnable

Allah’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم once declared:

O those who have professed faith with their tongues, but have not yet had faith enter their heart! Neither backbite Muslims nor seek their shortcomings, as Allah reveals the faults of a person who searches for their faults. As for whoever’s faults are revealed by Allah, such a person is disgraced even if they are (hiding away) in their own home.^[2]

O those who love Allah’s Messenger! From this hadith, we learn that backbiting Muslims and seeking their faults are the work of hypocrites. We also learn of how searching for others’ shortcomings results in one’s own disgrace and humiliation. He who searches for flaws in others will harbour some flaws of his own. It is entirely possible their own flaw may be