“Do not defame one another.” (Quran, Al-Hujurat, 49:11)
“...Neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it.” (Quran, Al-Hujurat, 49:12)
“Whoever secretly slanders his neighbour, him I will destroy; No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure”. (Psalms 101:5)
“...lying is evil, slandering is evil, abuse is evil, gossip is evil... And what is the root of evil? Desire and illusion is the root of evil”. (Gautama Buddha)
There is also a specific Surah in the Holy Quran named The Slanderer, Surah 104 (Al-Humazah). Prophet Muhammad SAW clearly stated, “The gossip-monger will not enter paradise”.
Slander including gossiping is one of the most destructive of major sins. It sows enmity and discord and could lead to hostilities. It is widespread that it has become a way for expressing anger, misgivings or seeking to raise one’s own status by putting down others.
I am writing this piece because in all the Raya gatherings I attended, this sinful thing will rear its ugly head after the favourite Malaysian topics on food, traffic jams and higher cost of living. The build-up will reach its crescendo when the topic of conversation touched on corruption in Malaysia and 1MDB. I believe this is so at ‘teh tarik’ sessions, office corridors and even at the Parliament’s cafeteria.
There is no tolerance for corruption which include corrupt minds and hypocrisy. The Quran warned us from the hypocrites. They pray but many of them may be hypocrites. It is about worldly pleasures. They are very materialistic and extravagant and are complete show-offs and their acts of kindness and charity is hollow.
We termed drugs as ‘najis’. Similarly we can apply it to corruption.
“The Hypocrites, men and women, (have an understanding) with each other: They enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and are close with their hands. They have forgotten God; so He hath forgotten them. Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse.” (Quran, At-Taubah 9:67)".
“The bankrupt from amongst my Ummah is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with a good record of Salah, Sawm and Zakah. But he also had cursed someone, slandered against someone, unlawfully took the property of another, killed someone or beat someone”. (Prophet Muhammad SAW).
Need I say more on 1MDB...
Given the above, what are the chances of Malaysians, irrespective of their belief, to enter Heaven?
However, some of the hypocrites will be forgiven and it will all depend on their intentions, repentance, the amount of damage caused and also God’s mercy.
Exceptions to the rule
As in most cases, there are exceptions to the rule on gossips and mentioning faults in someone’s absence:
1. A complaint because of an injustice e.g. to a ruler or judge who can help the perpetrator from committing further vice.
2. Help to change a wrong deed and to correct wrongdoers
3. Warning against evil and advising them.
4. Mentioning those in positions of authority doing wrong and find ways of advising them.
Sincere advice to those in positions is to assist them in their tasks with which they are assigned, alerting them when they are heedless and guiding straying hearts. The greatest sincere advice one may give to their leaders is to prevent them from oppression.
Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahman ibn Nasir As-Sa‘di (1889–1956), an Islamic scholar, jurist, exegete, and Arabic grammarian said, “...Sincere advice begins with sincerely advising oneself first, for rarely will a person advise others sincerely if he cheats himself.”
Doing my part here, I would suggest and encourage Malaysians to report all corruption cases. I would strongly urge the relevant authorities, especially the ones with prosecuting powers, to take appropriate actions without fear or favour. A thing to bear in mind is the reports should have some bases or evidence and not be based on ‘andaian’ or assumptions.
With regards to 1MDB, the perpetrators as recommended in the Public Accounts Committee Report should face action without any further delay. Similarly, the police should pull up their socks and give focus on this so-called international scandal and also without fear or favour. Meantime, Malaysians are still waiting for the auditor-general’s report as promised earlier.
The above actions by those in positions will definitely assist in reducing slander and gossipping, help Malaysians to be more productive and to finally enter Heaven.
“But you prefer the worldly life; While the Hereafter is better and more enduring.” (Quran, Al-A’la 16 - 17). - Mkini
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