Question About Perceptions
Such attitudes and misperceptions are, unfortunately, common in our society which leave no room for common ethics let alone Islamic ethics. Honor is as sacred as life, we care about life but honor. To put blame on someone is a grave act, which needs concrete evidence which can be presented to a court, otherwise, the one accuses is guilty of slandering. What is evident from your post is that it is a matter of misperception, which falls in the category of Soo-e- Zann. and God has forbidden to think ill of them. God says: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ Believers! Refrain from too much conjecture because some conjectures are pure sins. And do not spy [on others and do not indulge in backbiting one another. Is there anyone among you who would like to eat the meat of his dead brother? So, you do not tolerate this; [then why should backbiting be tolerated! Fear God. God surely is quick in accepting repentance, Ever-Merciful. It is better to give a break, take time to reconsider, and contemplate the real motives of hatred or repulsion. One should fear God for damaging the reputation of others without concrete proof, such acts will not go unchecked. one has to be answerable to God for slandering.
In principle, concrete evidence or observation is required to blame someone theif. It is something big. without concrete evidence or observation, the accuser is not only subject to punishment in the court here, but also in the court of God.
Dear Dr. Shahzad, Thank you so much for your replies. I have two more follow up questions: 1. The things you have pointed out in your reply are similar to the things that A’s husband has also pointed out to her. However, when he mentions these things she gets angry with him and starts accusing him of not believing her and not being a supportive husband. So, I wanted to ask you to please enlighten as to whether A’s husband is wrong, and should he be standing with his wife rather than pointing out these mistakes in her thinking? 2. A insists that her sixth sense is very sharp and that she can feel what the other person’s intentions are. She claims that Allah shows her these things about other people. For example, she says that it was Allah who showed her the “stolen” stuffed fish. Please advise what Islam says about sixth sense and whether A’s contention about this is right or wrong. Jasakallah