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سنن ابي داود
Abu Dawud
كتاب الأدبGeneral Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab)
باب فِي النَّهْىِ عَنِ التَّجَسُّسِChapter: Regarding spying.
Hadith 4888
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الرَّمْلِيُّ , وَابْنُ عَوْفٍ , وَهَذَا لَفْظُهُ ، قَالَا : حَدَّثَنَا الْفِرْيَابِيُّ ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ ، عَنْ ثَوْرٍ ، عَنْ رَاشِدِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ ، قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، يَقُولُ : " إِنَّكَ إِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ عَوْرَاتِ النَّاسِ أَفْسَدْتَهُمْ أَوْ كِدْتَ أَنْ تُفْسِدَهُمْ " , فَقَالَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ كَلِمَةٌ سَمِعَهَا مُعَاوِيَةُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ نَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى بِهَا .
Narrated Muawiyah: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: If you search for the faults of the people, you will corrupt them, or will nearly corrupt them. Abud Darda said: These are the words which Muawiyah himself from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and Allah benefited him by them.
Brief Explanation
1؎: Because if the secret is revealed, their sense of shame will disappear, and they will begin to commit sins openly.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:
➊ It is entirely possible that people, due to their faults being exposed, may become even more audacious and begin to commit wrong actions openly. However, if a just Imam seeks out such information for the purpose of advice and rectification of affairs, then it is permissible.
➋ Just as this Prophetic instruction benefited Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (radi Allahu anhu) and he remained a successful leader, in the same way, all members of the Ummah can benefit by following his example.
➊ It is entirely possible that people, due to their faults being exposed, may become even more audacious and begin to commit wrong actions openly. However, if a just Imam seeks out such information for the purpose of advice and rectification of affairs, then it is permissible.
➋ Just as this Prophetic instruction benefited Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (radi Allahu anhu) and he remained a successful leader, in the same way, all members of the Ummah can benefit by following his example.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 4888
