What is the Ruling on Suspicion (Bad Gumanī) and How Can One Avoid It?
Source: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on suspicion (bad gumanī), and how can one avoid it?
❖ Answer:
It is not permissible to harbor suspicion about anyone. The Qur’an and Sunnah prohibit it. To keep suspicion against a Muslim is a major sin. It is an ethical evil that prevents a person from purifying his soul. Instead of focusing on his own sins and shortcomings, he remains busy searching for the faults of others. This leads to backbiting and slander, which cause corruption in society.
✿ Evidence from the Qur’an
Allah Almighty says:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ﴾
(Al-Ḥujurāt: 12)
O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion; indeed, some suspicions are sin.
✿ Evidence from Hadith
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إياكم والظن، فإن الظن أكذب الحديث، ولا تحسسوا، ولا تجسسوا ولا تحاسدوا، ولا تدابروا، ولا تباغضوا، وكونوا عباد الله إخوانا
(Avoid suspicion, for suspicion is the most false of speech. Do not spy, do not seek out faults, do not envy, do not turn away from one another, do not hate one another, and be servants of Allah as brothers.)
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6064)
❖ Avoiding Causes of Suspicion
✔ Suspicion is ḥarām, yet a person must avoid those acts that may lead to suspicion.
✔ Especially scholars should refrain from places or actions that might cause people to doubt them, lest their credibility be harmed and the public ceases to benefit from their knowledge.
✔ If someone performs an action which is not sinful but could cause suspicion, clarification must be given so the matter becomes clear.
Some people say: “I do not need to defend myself.” This is incorrect. If a greater purpose is served, self-defense is allowed. Those whose actions are observed and followed should avoid such matters—even if lawful—that outwardly appear doubtful, as this may give rise to evil consequences.
For example:
- People may assume the outward form is the Sharī‘ah ruling for all times.
- Hearts may develop hatred or contempt.
- Scholars may be belittled.
- Their knowledge may lose impact.
If clarification is necessary for people to understand its permissibility, then it should be openly explained.
✿ Example from the Prophet ﷺ
Sayyidah Safiyyah bint Ḥuyayy رضي الله عنها narrated:
She visited the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during his i‘tikāf in the last ten nights of Ramadan. After speaking with him for some time, she stood up to return home. The Prophet ﷺ accompanied her until they reached the door of the mosque near Umm Salamah’s رضي الله عنها house. Two men from the Anṣār passed by, greeted the Prophet ﷺ, and he said to them:
على رسلكما، إنما هي صفية بنت حيي
(Wait! She is Safiyyah bint Ḥuyayy.)
They said: Subḥān Allah, O Messenger of Allah! It was hard for them that he clarified this. The Prophet ﷺ then said:
إن الشيطان يبلغ من الإنسان مبلغ الدم، وإني خشيت أن يقذف فى قلوبكما شيئا
(Indeed, Shayṭān flows through a person like blood, and I feared that he might put something in your hearts.)
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2035, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2175)
✿ Scholars’ Explanations
✔ Ibn Daqīq al-‘Īd رحمه الله (702H):
This ḥadīth proves that one should avoid actions that may cause people to imagine inappropriate things. Scholars said: if suspicion had entered the Companions’ رضي الله عنهم hearts regarding the Prophet ﷺ, it would have been disbelief. But the Prophet ﷺ intended to educate the Ummah. For scholars and role models, this caution is even more emphasized. They should never perform actions that may cause suspicion, even if they are innocent, as this will prevent people from benefiting from their knowledge.
(Iḥkām al-Aḥkām Sharḥ ‘Umdat al-Aḥkām 2/45)
✔ Imām Nawawī رحمه الله (676H):
This ḥadīth shows that avoiding actions that lead to suspicion is recommended. It is also recommended to seek ways of safety from accusations, present valid excuses, and clarify any actions that appear objectionable though they are lawful, so that people do not harbor suspicion.
(Sharḥ al-Nawawī 14/156)
✔ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله (852H):
This ḥadīth proves one must avoid things that give rise to suspicion, protect oneself from Shayṭān’s plots, and present valid justification when needed.
(Fatḥ al-Bārī 4/280)
❖ Reminder for the Believer
Suspicion is a sin. A person must always remember that one day he will be presented before Allah Almighty. Does he have an answer prepared for his deeds?
Ibn Daqīq al-‘Īd رحمه الله said:
ما تكلمت بكلمة، ولا فعلت فعلا، إلا أعددت لذلك جوابا بين يدي الله تعالى
(I never uttered a word nor did an action except that I prepared an answer for it before Allah Almighty.)
(Raf‘ al-Aṣr by Ibn Ḥajar, p. 394; Ṭabaqāt al-Shāfi‘iyyah by al-Subkī 9/212; Fatḥ al-Mughīth by al-Sakhāwī 1/123; al-Radd ‘ala al-Qā’ilīn bi Waḥdat al-Wujūd by Mullā ‘Alī al-Qārī, p. 34)
Conclusion:- Harboring suspicion is ḥarām and a major sin.
- One must avoid anything that leads to suspicion.
- Clarifying doubtful matters is from the Sunnah.
- Especially for scholars and leaders, safeguarding credibility is vital to ensure the benefit of knowledge continues in the Ummah.
