Don’t Discuss the Faults
of Others

If someone has some failing or shortcoming, you should meet that person and advise him of this privately. Talking of these failings in public is highly objectionable.

The Prophet of Islam has said: “Do you know what backbiting is?” The Companions said: “God and His messenger know the best.” Thereupon the Prophet replied, “Backbiting implies your talking about your brother in a manner which he does not like.” The Prophet was then asked: “But what if we actually find that failing in our brother which we alluded to?” The Prophet said: “If that failing is actually found in him as asserted by you, you indeed subjected him to backbiting, but if it is not found in him, then it is slander.” (Sahih Muslim 2589)

One of the most important things required for a healthy society is for people to speak generously of the virtues of others. They must refrain from speaking to others of their faults and their deficiencies. By speaking of the virtues of others, positive values are promoted in society. On the contrary, if people’s negative points and weaknesses are spoken of to one another, then negative concepts will be promoted in society.

Speaking of one another’s personal failings or weaknesses is called backbiting. Even if you find some failing or shortcoming in someone you should meet that person and advise him of this privately. Talking of these failings in public is highly objectionable.

An even graver evil is talking about shortcomings which the person concerned does not have. This is called slander and is without doubt a great crime. While blaming others baselessly, one should think very seriously that this is a bilateral matter. That is, if the person concerned is not blameworthy, the accusation will rebound on the accuser, and he himself will be held blameworthy in the eyes of God.