Thread by @PenAbdull

I begin with the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

Thread: Concealing the fault of a Muslim

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever conceals (the faults of) a Muslim, Allaah will conceal (his faults) in this life and the Hereafter." Narrated by Muslim

No Muslim is without a fault, and no Muslim is above being corrected. However, we must understand this within the realms of Islamic brotherhood.

This teaching of the Prophet ﷺ regarding concealing other people's fault is so important in the life of believers, that it can be found in numerous of his hadith.

"Whoever conceals his brother Muslim's private affairs wil have Allah conceal his private affairs on d Day of Resurrection.& whoever uncovers his brother Muslim's private affairs wil have Allah uncover his private affairs, to d point that He will expose what occurred in his house

O gathering who believe with their tongues but faith has yet to enter into their hearts, do not backbite the Muslims. And do not search for their private matters. Whoever searches for their private matters will have Allah follow up his private matters....” hadith

And whose private matters Allah follows, He will expose him even [if his act were done] in his house.” Sahih Sunan ibn Majah

One of the early scholars stated, "I came across a people who had no [known] shortcomings. However, they would mention the shortcomings of the people and so then the people mentioned the shortcomings they had...” Ibn Rajab

”I came across another people who had [known] shortcomings but they refrained from speaking about the shortcomings of the people. Therefore, because of that, their shortcomings were forgotten." Ibn Rajab

That's why the moment we start exposing the private affairs of others, Allaah exposes ours too. And I ask, who is without a private affair which he or she is concealing from others!

Generally, a true believer would not like the mistakes and faults of others to be broadcast about. If a person made a mistake, it is not good that his sin be told to everyone and he be made a spectacle.

When a person is happy when other people's faults and mistakes are being exposed, it is a sign that his faith has a shortcoming.

Allaah is definitely not pleased with such a situation as He said, "Verily, those who like that lewd sinful acts should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter." Q24:19

Allaah says: "Truly, We did offer Trust (moral responsibility) to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it. But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results)." Q33:72

Ibn Uthaymeen points out that all humans - except for those humans whom Allaah protects from this by giving them knowledge and righteousness - have the characteristics of injustice to themselves and ignorance..." Sharh Riyaadh

Out of injustice to himself, a person knows that something is wrong&harmful to himself but he still does it. Secondly, people also do things ignorantly, not knowing what is right or wrong. Therefore, by their nature, all humans are going to have faults, shortcomings and mistakes.

Shaykh Uthaymeen said, a Muslim should conceal his brother's faults and not inform others of them, unless he must do so out of necessity..." Sharh Riyaadh

The sinful brother may have temporary yielded to his desires or did something wrong without realizing how wrong it was. But the person who notices those mistakes in others most likely also has his own mistakes and shortcomings.

None would like others to know when he makes mistakes and, therefore, he should not spread the mistakes of others.

Scholars said, obviously, everybody commits sins and has faults. Everyone should love that Allaah would conceal those faults and not reveal them to others. Part of Allaah's concealing of a fault is His overlooking it and excusing it.

Scholars said, there are two types of people. One type is known to be religious, performs the obligatory and recommended acts and, in general, remains away from what is forbidden. A second type is one who is known to openly and brazenly commit sins and acts that are forbidden.

As for the first type of people --- the religious ones who are not known for committing sins --- if a person witnesses such a one committing a sin, he should conceal it on his behalf.

Everyone is prone to make mistakes one time or another and there is no need for a person's life or reputation to be ruined because of one mistake that he has made. Allaah willing, if a Muslim conceals the sin of such a brother, Allaah will conceal for him has sins & forgive them.

The sin that the person committed must be one related to "rights of Allaah" and not the rights of mankind. If a Muslim witnessed another pious Muslim stealing something from somebody else, then he cannot remain silent because another individual's rights have been violated.

The sin must have been already finished. In other words, if a person is committing a sin at the present moment in front of another Muslim, he must put a stop to that sin, even if it means he must tell others about it.

The person whose fault is being concealed must be a religious person who is known for performing obligatory deeds and is not known whatsoever for performing evil deeds. In other words, it must have been a slip on his part and almost everyone is bound to slip some time.

The benefit of concealing the person's sin must outweigh the benefit of letting his son be known. If it is better for a person's sin to be known, it should not be concealed.

If a righteous Muslim who is not known for committing sins should blunder and commit a mistake, the others should keep his mistakes concealed.

اشفعوا تؤ جروا

"Intercede (on each other's behalf) and you will be rewarded." Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim

أقيلوا ذوي الهيئات عثراتهم الا الحدود

"Overlook the slips of the righteous and pious people, except in matters concerning which there is a prescribed penalty." Musnad Ahmad (Sahih al-Jaami')

Those who are not deserving of intercession are those who openly and repeatedly commit sins. They are known for committing such sins and they do not actually even care what anyone says about them and their sins.

“Verily, those who like that lewd sinful acts should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter" (al-Noor 19). Allaah is not pleased with such actions