ʿA’ishah narrated that a man sought permission to enter upon the Prophet. When the Prophet (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) saw him, he said, “What an evil brother of his tribe! And what an evil son of his tribe!”
But when the man sat down, the Prophet ﷺ spoke to him gently and showed him kindness. When the man had left, ʿA’ishah said: “O Messenger of Allah, when you saw that man, you said such-and-such, yet when he sat with you, you spoke kindly to him and showed warmth”
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “O ʿĀ’ishah, since when have you known me to be foul-mouthed? Verily, the worst of people in rank before Allah on the Day of Resurrection are those whom people avoid in order to be safe from their evil.” (Al-Bukhāri, no. 6032 and others)
The Prophet ﷺ informed ʿA’ishah that the worst of people in the sight of Allah are those whom people avoid and keep away from out of fear of their evil and foul speech towards others. This man was one of them, so the Prophet ﷺ dealt with him in that manner in order to protect himself and others from his harm and abuse.
This conduct does not fall under the prohibited backbiting. Rather, it was to inform people about this man’s condition, to deter them from adopting his way – and to explain the permissibility of tolerating and showing forbearance with bad people in order to ward off their harm — as long as such forbearance and tolerance does not lead to compromising the religion of Allah, the Most High.
It has also been stated by the scholars that perhaps this man openly displayed his wrongdoing and foulness – and it is allowed to backbite a man who openly commits foul deeds if it is to warn others from following his way or becoming victims of his evil. However, one must fear Allah and be truthful – and not allow Shaytan to deceive him into prohibited backbiting in order to dishonour righteous Muslims, or to carry tales and rumour-monger as a form of settling scores, or entertainment in gatherings! May Allah keep us safe.
Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid.
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عِيسَى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَوَاءٍ، حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا رَآهُ قَالَ ” بِئْسَ أَخُو الْعَشِيرَةِ، وَبِئْسَ ابْنُ الْعَشِيرَةِ ”. فَلَمَّا جَلَسَ تَطَلَّقَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي وَجْهِهِ وَانْبَسَطَ إِلَيْهِ، فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقَ الرَّجُلُ قَالَتْ لَهُ عَائِشَةُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ حِينَ رَأَيْتَ الرَّجُلَ قُلْتَ لَهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، ثُمَّ تَطَلَّقْتَ فِي وَجْهِهِ وَانْبَسَطْتَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” يَا عَائِشَةُ مَتَى عَهِدْتِنِي فَحَّاشًا، إِنَّ شَرَّ النَّاسِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَنْزِلَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ تَرَكَهُ النَّاسُ اتِّقَاءَ شَرِّهِ ”.
End.
