A Verdict From

Fatawa Razviyah Shareef

Volume 21

The Query

What is the Ruling of the Ulama e Deen concerning this Mas’ala, that what

if a person swears at an Aalim or Faqih, or belittles him, then in such a

case, will the ruling of Kufr apply to him or not? And most common

people today swear at Aalims and belittle them and slander (backbite

against) them. (Explain and be rewarded)

The Answer

To make Gheebat of even a Jaahil (ignorant person) except for in certain

distinctive circumstances is Haraam e Qat’ai (conclusively forbidden) and

Gunah e Kabeera (a major sin). The Qur’an e Azeem has referred to it as

eating the flesh of your dead brother, and it has been mentioned in the

Hadith Shareef that Rasoolullah Sall Allahu alaihi wa Sallam said, Abstain

from Gheebat (backbiting/slander), for Gheebat is more harmful than

adultery (Zina). It sometimes happens that an adulterer (Zaani) sincerely

repents, so Allah accepts his repentance; but the one who commits

Gheebat will not be forgiven, until the person whom he has backbitten,

does not forgive him. [This has been reported by Ibn Abid Danya in Dham

Al Ghaybah and Abush Shaykh has reported in it At Tawbeekh from Jaabir

bin Abdullah and Abu Sa’eed Khudri (Radi Allahu ta’aala Anhum). [Ref: Al

Ghaybah Wa Al Nameema which is a Manuscript from the Manuscripts of

Ibn Abid Danya, Hadith 35 Vol.2 Pg.42]

Similarly, it is forbidden to slander (backbite about) any Muslim who is

even ignorant. Rasoolullah said, ‘Everything belonging to a Muslim is

Haraam upon (another Muslim). His wealth, His Dignity and his blood (i.e.

to harm him in any way is forbidden). For a person to be regarded as a

bad (immoral) person, it is sufficient that he may look down on his fellow

Muslim brother (i.e. belittle him)’. [Sahih Muslim Vol.2 Pg.317]

Similarly, to swear at an ignorant Muslim without a valid reason of the

Shariah is Haraam e Qat’ai.

The Beloved Rasool said, To swear at a Muslim is a major sin. This has

been reported by Imam Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and

Haakim from Ibn Mas’ud ؓ◌. [Sahih Muslim Vol.1 Pg.58; Jaame Tirmizi

Vol.2 Pg.19; Sunan Ibn Majah Pg.291]

Rasoolullah said, The person who swears at a Muslim is like that

person who will soon be ruined. [Imam Ahmed and Baz’zaar have

reported it from Abdullah ibn Amr عا�� عن�ما with a good merit] [At ر� اهللا

Targheeb Wat Tarheeb with ref to Baz’zaar Vol.3 Pg.467]

Rasoolullah said, One who has hurt a Muslim has hurt me, and one

who has hurt me, has displeased Allah. [Imam Tabrani reported this with

a Hassan merit in Al Awsat from Hazrat Anas ؓ◌] [Al Mu’jam Al Awsat,

Hadith 3633, Vol.4 Pg.373]

If this is the ruling concerning the ordinary (general) Muslims, then the

status of the Ulama is even more elevated. It has been mentioned in the

Hadith that Rasoolullah said, None other than a Munafiq (hypocrite)

will look down on Ulama (i.e. belittle them). [Tabrani reported it in

Kabeer from Abu Umama ؓ◌] [Al Mu’jam Al Kabeer, Hadith 7819, Vol.8

Pg.238]

In another Hadith Rasoolullah said, None will belittle their status,

except for a Munafiq (hypocrite). [Abush Shaykh has reported it in At

Tawbeekh from Hazrat Jaabir bin Abdullah Ansaari عا�� عن�ما Kanzul] [ر� اهللا

Um’mal with ref to Abush Shaykh, Hadith 43811, Vol.16 Pg.32]

Rasoolullah said, One who does not recognise the right of our Aalim,

he is not from my Ummah. [Ahmed, Haakim and Tabrani reported it in

Kabeer from Ubadah bin Saamit ؓ◌] [Musnad Imam Ahmed bin Hambal,

Vol.5 Pg.323]

Now, if the Aalim is being slandered because he is an Aalim, then this is

clearly kufr, and if he regards his respect as Fard due to his knowledge,

but due to some worldly enmity he slanders him, or swears at him or

belittles him, then such a person is a Faasiq (transgressor/sinner). If he

has animosity against him without a (valid) reason, then he has a diseased

heart, and an evil inner-self, and there is a risk (fear) of him committing

kufr.

It is mentioned in Khulasa, One who has animosity (enmity) against any

Aalim without a reason, there is fear that he will fall into kufr. [Khulasatul

Fatawa, Vol.4 Pg.388]

It is in Minah Ar Rawdh Al Azhar; It is apparent that he will become a

kaafir. [Minah Ar Rawdh Al Azhar Sharah Al Fiqh Al Akbar, Pg. 173]

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