Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 58

(Ayah 58) ➊ { وَ الَّذِيْنَ يُؤْذُوْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنٰتِ بِغَيْرِ مَا اكْتَسَبُوْا … :} That is, in order to disgrace them, they attribute to them such actions which they have not even done. This is slander and a very great sin. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked: "O Messenger of Allah! What is backbiting?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ ] "Your mentioning about your brother that which he dislikes." It was said: "Tell us, if my brother actually has that which I am saying?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِيْهِ مَا تَقُوْلُ فَقَدِ اغْتَبْتَهُ وَ إِنْ لَّمْ يَكُنْ فِيْهِ مَا تَقُوْلُ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ ] [ أبوداوٗد، الأدب، باب في الغیبۃ : ۴۸۷۴، و قال الألباني صحیح ] "If he has what you say, then you have backbitten him, and if he does not have it, then you have slandered him." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when taking the pledge of allegiance, used to take the pledge not to commit shirk, theft, adultery, murder, and also not to slander. See Surah Al-Mumtahanah (12). Sa'id bin Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ مِنْ أَرْبَی الرِّبَا الْاِسْتِطَالَةَ فِيْ عِرْضِ الْمُسْلِمِ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ ] [ أبوداوٗد، الأدب، باب في الغیبۃ : ۴۸۷۶، و قال الألباني صحیح ] "Among the greatest forms of usury is violating or attacking the honor of a Muslim." Ibn Kathir said: "The verse: « وَ الَّذِيْنَ يُؤْذُوْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ …» In this warning, first of all, the disbelievers are included, then the Rafidhi Shia who mention the faults of the Companions and attribute to them those defects from which Allah Almighty has declared them free, and what Allah Almighty has praised them for, they say the exact opposite, because Allah Almighty has praised the Muhajirun and Ansar and informed that He is pleased with them, and these ignorant and foolish people revile them, find faults in them, and attribute to them things which in reality they never did; these are people with inverted hearts, who criticize those who are worthy of praise and praise those who are worthy of criticism." (Ibn Kathir)

➋ Qasimi said: "It is stated in Ikleel that from this verse it is proven that harming a Muslim is forbidden. However, if it is for a legitimate Shariah reason, then it is a different matter, such as punishment for a sin, and this includes all those things which are forbidden due to causing harm to a Muslim, for example, selling over someone else's sale, or proposing over someone else's proposal, and Imam Shafi'i explicitly stated that taking food from in front of someone when it causes him distress is forbidden."

That is, to slander them in order to defame them, to unjustly criticize and insult them, just as the Rawafid curse the noble Companions ؓ and attribute to them things which they did not commit. Imam Ibn Kathir states that the Rafidi are those with inverted hearts; they criticize praiseworthy individuals and praise those who are blameworthy.

58. And those who harm believing men and women without their having done anything wrong, they bear the burden of slander and a clear sin [98].

[98] When Muslim women would go out at night to relieve themselves, some mischievous youths and hypocrites would engage in indecent conversation and harassment with them, and when questioned about it, they would say, "We thought they were slave girls." Then there were some hypocrites who would speak ill of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ behind his back and make indecent accusations against the pure wives. All such people are slanderers and the worst kind of criminals.