Thread: The Prophet (peace be upon him) warned us against taking people of good character to task (by disparaging their honor) if they slip especially those in our midst that are known for teaching the Deen

I begin with the Name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

The Prophet (SAW) said:
"أقيلوا ذَوي الهيئاتِ عثَراتِهم إلا الحدود"

“Forgive the people of good character for their mistakes, except in cases of hadd punishments.”

This hadith has been narrated by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad and Authenticated by al-Albani

Forgiving and overlooking the mistakes of people is one of the things that Islam promotes and teaches especially if this mistake was made by someone who is known to be a source of goodness to people.

In such situations, concealing the faults and mistakes ofna person of good character and a teacher of the Deen is of utmost priority in Islamic Shariah. The Prophet categorically stated that unless it involves the capital punishment in which case the case has reached the ruler

The wisdom behind this is that, Islam does not like that the goodness of the person's character and his effort in spreading good amongst the Ummah is not overshadowed by his faults and mistakes which in turn will deny people access to the goodness he or she is spreading.

Ibnul Qayyim (Rahimahullah) said those referred to in the hadith perhaps are people who occupy high status and high position amongst the people.

When the people of high status and position make mistakes in their character and slip, it is better to conceal their faults but if this mistake involves capital punishment, they are treated on the same footing with those lower than them in status because Shariah means justice.

I hope this short thread will encourage my respected brothers and sisters in Islam to desist from dragging our scholars to disrepute. May Allaah forgive us all and particularly forgive the Muslim teachers and scholars for their faults and mistakes.