Severe Condemnation of Slanderers and Fault-Finders in Islam

Source: Sharḥ Kitāb al-Jāmiʿ from Bulūgh al-Marām by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī

❖ Ḥadīth​

وعن حذيفة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم:
لا يدخل الجنة قتات ‏‏‏‏

It is narrated from Ḥudhayfah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“A tale-bearer (qattāt) will not enter Paradise.”
Agreed upon – [Bukhārī & Muslim]

Referencing​

• [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6056]
• [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Īmān 169–170]
• Also cited in: Tuhfat al-Ashrāf 3/54

✦ Vocabulary​

قَتَّات (Qattāt):
Some scholars consider qattāt and nammām to be synonymous—both referring to a tale-bearer or slanderer.
In another wording:
"لا يدخل الجنة نمام" – “A slanderer will not enter Paradise.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Īmān 168]


Difference explained:

• Nammām: Someone who is present in a gathering and carries words between people to cause discord. (From the root: nama ilayhi – to convey something to someone)
• Qattāt: One who secretly listens, gathers information from different sources, and spreads it with ill intent.

In both cases, the aim is to divide, defame, or harm reputations—making them heinous sins.

✿ Key Points & Benefits​

➊ Condemnation of Tale-Bearing​

The statement “will not enter Paradise” indicates that tale-bearing is not just disliked but harām (forbidden).


Allah describes disbelievers with this very trait:


"هَمَّازٍ مَّشَّاءٍ بِنَمِيمٍ"
[al-Qalam 68:11]
"A habitual slanderer, going about with malicious gossip."

Example from Ḥadīth:
Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما) reported that the Prophet ﷺ passed by two graves and said:


"إِنَّهُمَا يُعَذَّبَانِ وَمَا يُعَذَّبَانِ فِي كَبِيرٍ؛ أَمَّا أَحَدُهُمَا فَكَانَ لَا يَسْتَتِرُ مِنْ بَوْلِهِ، وَأَمَّا الْآخَرُ فَكَانَ يَمْشِي بِالنَّمِيمَةِ"

"Indeed, both of them are being punished. One did not protect himself from urine, and the other used to carry gossip."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 218]


This shows that tale-bearing leads to punishment in the grave even before the Day of Judgment.

➋ The Social Damage of Tale-Bearing​

• Destroys brotherhood and mutual trust
• Sows discord in families, communities, and among companions
• Tale-bearers become social poison and a cause of fitnah (discord)

Thus, total avoidance is required.

➌ How to Respond to a Tale-Bearer?​

⚠ A true believer must:

• Not entertain the tale-bearer
• Not believe what is conveyed without verification
• Not act upon such information
• Rebuke the act, not encourage it

Because:


“Just as he brings others’ words to you, he will take your words to others.”

➍ Condemnation of Spying and Fault-Finding​

If qattāt is interpreted more specifically as one who:

• Listens secretly,
• Collects people's faults,
• And then spreads them,

Then the sin is even more severe, as it includes:

✔ Spying
✔ Exposing hidden faults
✔ Breaking trust
✔ Causing fitnah deliberately


All of these are explicitly forbidden in the Qur'an and Sunnah.

Example from Ḥadīth:


Ḥammām said:
“We were with Ḥudhayfah (رضي الله عنه) when someone informed him that a man was carrying tales to ʿUthmān (رضي الله عنه). Ḥudhayfah said:
*‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: The tale-bearer will not enter Paradise.’”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]

Summary​

✔ Tale-bearing (chughlī) and fault-finding are prohibited and severely condemned in Islam.
✔ Such a person is threatened with exclusion from Paradise unless they repent sincerely.
✔ These traits are found among the disbelievers, hypocrites, and people of corruption.
✔ A believer must protect their tongue, mind, and heart from spreading or even listening to such speech.
✔ The Muslim community thrives on trust, sincerity, and brotherhood—all of which are harmed by these actions.