Khutbah Topic By Sheikh Salaah Al Budair: 01/01/21 'Warnin…

O Muslims:
People of intellect and sound mind protect and guard themselves from falsehood and their honor from anything which may harm it by following the path of virtue and good and avoiding what causes suspicion.

There is no virtue except for the one who protects his honor and tries to increase in good. I swear that there is no dishonor for a person in death, if he is not afflicted in life with what is shameful.

No one who is alive, even if he lives safely, will be more mortal than those in their graves. Every youth and every new thing will come to an end, and everyone will eventually return to Allah.

The believer does not accept to be an aim for the arrows of suspicion, or a target of backbiting, criticism and slander. He must cut off the causes of doubt and evil thoughts that may come to people.

He must take protection from peoples' thoughts by avoiding suspicious matters.

It was said, “If a man asks people to criticize him, they will do so in truth and in falsehood.”

Dear Muslims:
Whoever does not protect himself from his desires, then his faults will become great and his secrets will get exposed.
It is also said "Do not reach night causing evil gossip, and do not forget that there is a Lord always watching you.”

‘Awf ibn Muhallim said, “I am a young man who protects his honor from a scratch of criticism, but does not fear the sharp swords. I protect my honor from being attacked by gossip. Indeed, the one free of blame is happy.”

Samaw’al ibn ‘Adiya Al-Azdi said, “If a person doesn’t taint his honor with evil, then indeed, everything he wears is beautiful.”

O Muslims:
People have sharp tongues when it comes to others’ faults and souls that crave finding flaws. They spread others’ faults more than their virtues.

In gatherings, the only loud voices are the voices of the backbiters and critics, except for those whom Allah has mercy on,and how few they are.

Bakr ibn Abdillah said,“If you see a man busy with other people's faults and he forget his own, then know that he has been deceived

Muhammad ibn Seereen said, “It was narrated to us that the people with the most flaws are those who dedicate their time to the faults of others."

One of the righteous people said, “We met the righteous predecessors, and they did not consider that (the high level of) worship is (in) fasting and praying, but rather in avoiding attacking people's honor."

O servant of Allah! Busy yourself with your own flaws, for he who occupies himself with the flaws of others and forgets his own indeed he has a blind heart and has tired himself (for no benefit).

His worries will increase and it will become more difficult for him to fix his own faults. From the most useless of people is he who criticizes people for the faults they have, and even more useless is he who criticizes others for faults that he himself has.

Whoever criticizes others, will be criticized, and whoever shames others, will be shamed.

O Muslims:
It is prohibited to have evil assumptions of other Muslims who seem to be trustworthy, truthful, and good. Allah (the Most High) said, “Indeed, some assumptions are sin.”

So, do not dare assume evil (of others). Distinguish between true and false assumptions based on clear signs. Have taqwah and constantly be .

It is said that the one who is suspicious of others will always be doubtful even if he is right.

Do not live in the circles of illusions, assumptions, doubts, and suspicions.

Do not assume evil of your families, relatives, and people (in general).

The oppressive one is he who criticizes those who are blameless and and belittles those of high moral character.

O Muslims:

Criticism might fall on those who are free from it, and faults might be blamed on an Innocent ones, and the slanderer is from those who accused Innocents.

The one whose heart is filled with animosity, hatred, envy, and greed for worldly matters, will transgress and attack the honor of others with evil assumptions, criticism, and blame.

If a disagreement or a conflict occurs between him and others, he slanders him and accuses him with something he is free of, and tries to ruin his reputation.

There was an argument between a poet and another man over a well. The man said about him, "He is a thief, the son of a thief.

The poet replied,

He accused me and my father with that which we are free from.

He only accused us of this due to this well.

He called me a thief amongst other thieves.

No two men ever accused my father of this.

So fear Allah, O Muslims, and seek cure for the diseases of the heart. Seek protection (in Allah) from the whispers of the devils.

Do not let your minds wonder with falsehood and assumptions.

Do not busy yourselves with other people’s faults. Do not let hatred blind you, and be from those who abide by the truth and follow it.

So beware of every malicious gossiper. If you entrusted him with something, he will expose it. If you hide it from him, he will be upset.

He memorizes everything people say, and anything that escapes him, he searches for it until he attains it. He cannot keep a secret or keep a secret conversation to himself.