The Devils Deception by Imam Ibn AL-Jawzi

T H E D E V I L ' S
D E C E P T I O N S
showing off, and this is why they sought extraordinary traditions. In
fact some students used to travel to a teacher whose name starts
with the letter "Qij" or "Kiif' just so he could include him in his
diary of teachers.
Section One:
Slandering and Backbiting
It is of Iblis's deception of l)adith enthusiasts that they slander
one another just for spite, and they frame this slandering as if it
were a part of practicing al-Jarb wa'/-Ta'di/(discreditingand crediting
of narrators) which was used by early scholars. Allah knows best
their intentions.
The proof that these people have bad intentions is that they do
not criticise their teachers. Early scholars were not like this, 'All lbn
Al-MadinI used to narrate his father's traditions and then say: however,
the Shaikh's (i.e. his father's) J:iadith is not all that (trustworthy
in narration).
Al-Mu]:iasibI said about backbiting: be cautious of it for it is the
most evil of gains. What do you think of something that strips you
of your reward (from your righteous deeds) and gives it to your
opponents? On Judgment Day, trading will not be through currency,
it will be using deeds.
You must be cautious of it and realise its sources. As for the backbiting
that is committed by ignorant people, its source is spite and
jealousy. And as for that which is committed by scholars, its source
is fooling one's self into believing that it is a form of advice.
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