al_etidaal_gn

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) also said: “When my Ummat shall begin to
swear at each other (with abusive words) it will become lowered in the sight of Allah.”
(Risalah-Tableegh)
So much was Rasulullah (Saliallahu Alayhi Wasallam)’s concern in this respect that he
even commanded that the (minor) slips and faults of the elders be overlooked. Hence he
is reported to have said: “Overlook the lapses of the men of status, except in the case of
hudood.”
Here we are commanded to overlook the genuine faults of such men. However as for the
hudood, i.e. those cases where they are guilty of such crimes as fornication, adultery,
theft, where some form of corporal punishment has to be meted out after proper
investigation and proof, no one should receive any preferential treatment. On the other
hand, it is not permissible, merely on the basis of suspicion and conjecture in the absence
of any solid, legally acceptable proof, to accuse anyone. In Surah Noor, it is clearly stated
that, in the case of adultery, if the accuser does not come forth with four eyewitnesses,
then, according ó Islamic Canon Law of Evidence, the accusation is considered to be
unfounied and thus false. That is the Quran. But let us look at ourselves. When we
harbour within ourselves personal animosity against anyone, then according to our own
liking we can get the dirtiest cartoon against him. Whatever evil we want to write about
him we can search for. To call this “enemy” of ours an adulterer or a drunkard is nothing
in our eye.
Look at what the the Shariat says: If one cannot bring forth four eye-witnesses of
someone’s having committed adultery, the accuser should be beaten eighty times as
punishment. But as for us, we do not even bother about witnesses when we want to
accuse.
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “Sometimc Shaytaan also appears in
human form to spread lies. The congregation hears it and disperses to all corners
spreading the same lie, telling each other “I have heard this story from a certain man. I do
not know his name but will be able to recognise his face.” (Mishkat, Muslim)
Thus, one should be careful. It is a great injustice to believe the subject matter of any
story after having heard it from an unknown person in some gathering. It is wrong to
believe such things until such time that according to the Islamic law of evidence such a
story (and the telling thereof) has been tested. It is a completely different matter to take
the precautionary measure to avoid contact with such an accused. But to pass judgement
on him (without verification) is wrong.
Please understand this well. To remain aloof from such an accused or to expel him from
your circle is feasible as a precautionary measure, for the sake of proper administration
and for political reasor1. But when it comes to an actual charge against him legal proof is
required. We know that such supposed allegations are often invented individually by
someone or collectively (and purposefully) by some party to degrade the accused. It is
often done out of envy and jealousy because one does not want to see the other making
any progress.
Al- Eti’daal Fi Maraatibur- Rijaal 104