Prohibition of Suspicion and Its Harmful Consequences

Source: Sharh al-Jami‘ min Bulugh al-Maram by Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani | Translation: Hafiz Abd al-Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi

✦ The Hadith​

وعن ابي هريرة رضى الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: ‏‏‏‏إياكم والظن فإن الظن اكذب الحديث . [متفق عليه]

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"Beware of suspicion, for indeed suspicion is the most false of speech."
[Agreed upon – Bukhari 6066; Muslim – Birr wa Silah / 38]
Also referenced in Tuhfat al-Ashraf [10/172]

The full version of the Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari states:

ولا تحسسوا ولا تجسسوا ولا تناجشوا ولا تحاسدوا ولا تباغضوا ولا تدابروا وكونوا عباد الله إخوانا

"Do not spy on one another, do not pry, do not artificially raise prices, do not envy one another, do not hate one another, do not turn away from one another, and be, O servants of Allah, brothers to one another."

✿ Key Points and Commentary​

➊ Suspicion without Basis: A Condemned Act​

Imam al-Qurtubi explains that the "suspicion" referred to in this Hadith is the kind of accusation without any cause or proof, such as believing someone to be immoral or a drunkard despite no evidence indicating such behavior. For this reason, the Hadith is immediately followed by the command: "ولا تجسسوا" – Do not spy, because once suspicion takes root in the heart, a person may begin to spy and investigate in order to justify his baseless assumption.

This Hadith closely mirrors the verse of the Qur'an:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا
[Surah al-Hujurat 49:12]

"O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicion is sin. And do not spy, nor backbite one another."

This verse strongly emphasizes preserving the honor of fellow Muslims. First, it forbids baseless suspicion. If someone tries to validate their suspicion through investigation, they are told: “Do not spy.” If they still insist and claim the truth has been confirmed, then the command is: “Do not backbite.”
[Fath al-Bari]

➋ Two Types of Suspicion (Ẓann)​

There are two kinds of suspicion in Islamic teachings:

✔ Ẓann Ghālib (Predominant Assumption):
When suspicion is supported by strong evidence or clear signs, acting upon it is permissible. In fact, many rulings in Islamic law and worldly affairs depend on this form. Examples include court verdicts based on witness testimony, business transactions, information shared through letters or phone calls, and narrations from trustworthy transmitters. All of these involve investigation and due diligence, which result in ẓann ghālib, and acting upon it is obligatory—even though, theoretically, there is still a remote possibility of error.

✔ Baseless Suspicion:
This is when an assumption enters the heart without any proof. This could be pure doubt or even weaker—classified as delusion (wahm). These forms of suspicion are blameworthy and must be avoided, as indicated by the verse:

إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ
"Indeed, some suspicion is sinful."

Other verses refer to the same notion:
إِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا
[Surah Yunus 10:36]
"Indeed, speculation does not avail against the truth at all."

وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنفُسُ
[Surah al-Najm 53:23]
"They follow nothing but assumption and what their souls desire."

➌ Suspicion Against an Apparently Righteous Person​

As mentioned earlier, this Hadith commands one to avoid baseless suspicion, such as assuming evil about a person who is outwardly righteous, known for modesty and trustworthiness, and about whom there is no proof of wrongdoing. Such suspicion is forbidden.

However, if clear signs or evidence exist, then forming suspicion is not prohibited. This is why Allah did not forbid all suspicion, but rather stated:

اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ
"Avoid much suspicion, for indeed some suspicion is sin."

Imam al-Bukhari (رحمه الله) included a chapter in his Sahih titled:
"What is Permissible of Suspicion" (ما يجوز من الظن),
and quoted a Hadith from ‘A’ishah (رضي الله عنها) where the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

ما اظن فلانا وفلانا يعرفان من ديننا شيئا
"I do not think so-and-so knows anything of our religion."

Al-Layth said: These two individuals were hypocrites.
Thus, the suspicion mentioned here was based on clear signs and context.

➍ Inner Thoughts Without Action or Speech​

If a person finds a negative thought about someone entering their heart, but they do not give it space, do not act upon it, and do not speak of it, then there is no sin upon them.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
ان الله تجاوز لامتي عما حدثت به انفسها ما لم تعمل او تكلم به
[Muslim / al-Iman 332]

"Allah has pardoned my Ummah for what they think to themselves, so long as they do not act upon it or speak of it."

➎ Why Suspicion Is the Most False of Speech​

Suspicion is described as "the most false of speech" because when a person harbors suspicion about someone, they internally make a firm judgment that the individual is guilty of certain actions. However, in reality, that person is innocent. Thus, this conclusion is false.

Suspicion is the worst form of speech because:

✖ It is made without any evidence.
✖ It is based solely on ego and whispers of Shayṭān.
✖ It degrades others without just cause.
✖ It destroys trust and social harmony.
✖ It can lead to backbiting, spying, and unjust treatment.