Backbiting

SECTION 1
Definition of Backbiting

SECTION 2
Backbiting is Forbidden

SECTION 3
Expiation of Backbiting

SECTION 4
Examples of Backbiting

SECTION 5
Biting your dead Brother's Flesh!

SECTION 6
What you Lose when you Backbite - Your Good Deeds!

SECTION 7 
Reward and Thank your Backbiter with Gifts - What!? Why?

SECTION 8
Exceptions to Backbiting, Evidence & Conclusion


SECTION 1

What is Backbiting (Gheebah)?

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: "It [backbiting] is saying something about your brother which he dislikes." Someone asked: "Supposing that what I said about my brother was true?" And the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: "If what you say about him is true you have backbitten him and if it is not true you have slandered him." [Muslim 32:6265; Malik 56.4.10] [Bulugh al-Maram by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (d. 852 A.H.), p. 553-554. (Hadith no. 1538)]

So backbiting (gheebah) is saying something negative about your brother/sister behind his/her back (i.e. without their knowledge), something which (s)he would not like. And if what you say is a lie/falsehood, then you have slandered your brother/sister.

SECTION 2

Backbiting is Forbidden (haram)

Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says: "O you who believe! Let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. However bad is it to insult one's brother after having Faith [i.e., to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: 'O sinner', or 'O wicked']. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zalimun (wrongdoers)." (Quran 49:11)

Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) explained: "Allah, the Exalted, forbids scoffing (i.e. ridiculing) at people, which implies humiliating and belittling them. In the Sahih, it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, 'Arrogance is refusing the truth and belittling people.'" [Muslim 1:164]. [Tafsir ibn Kathir]

Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says: "O you who believe! Avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate the other)! But fear Allah: For Allah is Accepting of repentance and Most Merciful." (Quran 49:12)

Bilal Philips explained mathal (simile, proverb, and metaphor) in the Quran, saying, {At other times, the mathal is used to discourage certain evil practices by comparing them to distasteful things. For example, Allah said the following concerning backbiting: "Do not backbite each other. Would anyone of you wish to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You detest it..." (Quran 49:12)

The revulsion we all feel at the thought of eating the flesh of our dead brother should be felt when we hear slander or backbiting.

Figurative speech is generally a more moving and effective method of communication than direct commands and detailed explanations. Hence, Allah has used them frequently in the Quran:

"Certainly I have made all kinds of parables (mathal) in the Quran for mankind that perhaps they would reflect." (Quran 39:27)} 
['Usool at-Tafseer: The Methodology of Qur'anic Interpretation' by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, pg. 193]

Mu'adh ibn Jabal (رضي الله عنه) said: "Messenger of Allah, shall we really be punished for what we talk about?" He replied, "May your mother lose you! It is what the tongue says that throws people on their faces into Hell." [Tirmidhi, no. 2616] [Imam Ahmad, no. 5/231, 236, 237]

Ibn Rajab said about the above hadith: {This indicates that restraining one's tongue is the root of all goodness. If a person restrains his tongue, he controls his affairs. This ruling was elaborated when explaining the saying of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم), "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak well or keep silent." The apparent meaning of the hadith indicates that the tongue is the most important reason for sending people to Hell.

The signs of the tongue include: (i) Polytheism which is gravest of all sins; (ii) Attributing falsehood to Allah, which is just like polytheism; (iii) Perjury; (iv) Practicing black magic; (v) Accusing innocent people of fornication; (vi) Telling lies; and (vii) Slandering and backbiting of others. Most sins are almost always accompanied by an utterance by the tongue. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, "The organs that primarily lead people to Hell are the mouth and the sexual organs." [Tirmidhi, no. 2004] [Ibn Majah, no.. 4246] [Imam Ahmad, no. 2/291, 392]

Through his sayings and deeds, a person sows either a good or bad reward. One the Day of Judgement, he will harvest what he planted.}

[Jami' Al-'Ulum Wal-Hikam (A Collection of Knowledge and Wisdom) by Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (736-795 A.H.), pg. 376-377]

Ibn Rajab further said about backbiting: {And He [Allah] says, "...And He has united their [i.e. the believers'] hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah has united them. Certainly He is All-Mighty, All-Wise." (Quran 8:62-63) Because of this, Allah has prohibited spreading gossip among people as it leads to animosity and hatred. At the same time, He has allowed lies that are said in order to bring about reconciliation among people.}

[Jami' Al-'Ulum Wal-Hikam (A Collection of Knowledge and Wisdom) by Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (736-795 A.H.), pg. 448]

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Al-'As (رضي الله عنه) said: "Leave alone what you have nothing to do with, and do not speak about what does not concern you, and secure your tongue like you secure your money." [Ibn Hibban Al-Busti, Rawdatu Al-'Uqala' 1:55]

Reefi said: "May my tongue fall off, like the tail of the lizard, before uttering any slander towards my brothers."

A man once wrote to Ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه): "Please write down all knowledge for me." Ibn Umar replied: "Knowledge is vast, but if you can meet Allah having kept your back light of the burden of people’s blood, your stomach void of people’s wealth and having kept your tongue from [disparaging] their honour, then do so." [Al-Dhahabi, Siyar 'A'lam Al-Nubala' 3:222]

SECTION 3

Expiation of Backbiting

Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) explained Quran 49:12 as follows: "'Verily, Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful.' He forgives those who repent to Him, is merciful with those who go back to Him and trust in Him. The majority of scholars have stated that repentance for committing the sin of backbiting is that one refrains from backbiting intending not to repeat it again. There is a difference of opinion if whether feeling remorse is required in this case, and also if one should apologize to those who he has backbitten. Some scholars stated that it is not necessary for one to ask those whom he has backbitten to forgive him, because if they knew what was said about them, they could be hurt more than if they were not told about it. It is better, they said, that one should praise those whom he has backbitten in audiences in which he has committed the act. It is also better if one defends the injured party against any further backbiting, as much as one can, as recompense for his earlier backbiting." [Tafsir ibn Kathir]

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (رحمه الله) said: "Whoever wrongs a person by slandering him, backbiting about him or insulting him, then repents, Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) will accept his repentance, but if the one who was wronged finds out about that, he has the right to settle the score. But if he slandered him or backbit about him and the person did not hear of that, then there are two views according to the scholars, both of which were narrated from Ahmad, the more correct of which is that he should not tell him that he spoke against him in his absence. It was said that he should rather speak well of him in his absence just as he spoke badly of him in his absence, as al-Hasan al-Basri (رحمه الله) said: 'The expiation for gheebah (backbiting) is to pray for forgiveness for the person about whom you backbit.'" [Majmoo’ al-Fataawa]

What is garnered from the above two passages by the eminent scholars of the past are that one should:
1. Repent to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى);
2. Not backbite again;
3. Praise the one who was backbitten in gatherings where (s)he's been backbitten;
4. Defend the backbitten person against further backbiting as much as possible;
5. Speak well of the one backbitten in his/her absence;
6. Pray for the forgiveness of the one who's been backbitten.

SECTION 4

Examples of Backbiting

Aisha (رضي الله عنها) said: I said to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم): "Such-and-such thing of Safiyyah (رضي الله عنها) is sufficient for you." (She means to say that she was a woman with a short stature). He said: "You have indeed uttered a word which would pollute the sea if it were mixed in it." She further imitated a person before him and said: "I do not like that I should imitate someone even (if I am paid) in return such-and-such." [Abu Dawud 41:4857; at-Tirmidhi 2502] [Riyadh as-Saliheen, no. 1525]

Commentary: In Arabic, the word "Muhakat" is often used for imitating someone's defect or deformity, etc. Every imitation of this kind also amounts to backbiting. It is evident from this Hadith that to speak of somebody in a scornful manner, or ridicule someone's physical defect, or to imitate someone's deformity, or talk disparagingly about someone, is a great offense which should be avoided by every Muslim.

SECTION 5

Backbiting is Biting your Dead Brother's Flesh!

Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says: "O you who believe! Avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate the other)! And fear Allah: For Allah is Accepting of repentance and Most Merciful." (Quran 49:12)

Kamal El Mekki said: "Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) likened it [backbiting] to eating the flesh of your brother while he's dead...horrible, right? One of the scholars invited some people in his house for food. He brought out the bread and now was going to get the meat. They [i.e. the people] started backbiting someone so he [i.e. the scholar] wanted tell them indirectly to stop backbiting. He said: 'SubhanAllah [Free is Allah from every imperfection]! People before you used to eat the bread before the meat, and you are starting with the meat!' Understand? ...Because you're already eating the flesh of your brother." [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKzCIuTRAwE]

So next time, before you backbite, ask yourself: "Would you like to eat the flesh of your dead brother?!"

If you are in Salah (prayer), protect your heart. If you are in a gathering of people, protect your tongue and protect your gaze.

SECTION 6

What you Lose when you Backbite - Your Good Deeds!

Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: "Whoever has wronged his brother with regard to his honour or something, let him ask him for forgiveness before the time when there will be neither dinar nor dirham, and if he has any good deeds it will be taken from him in proportion to the wrong he did, and if he does not have any good deeds (hasanaat), some of the other person's evil deeds (sayi'aat) will be taken and given to him to bear." [Bukhari, no. 2296 and 6053]

Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) said in his commentary on this hadith: "'Whoever has wronged his brother' - i.e., if he has done something wrong to his brother. 'With regard to his honour or something' - i.e., anything else... this includes all kinds of wealth and wounding, even a slap in the face and so on. According to a report narrated by at-Tirmidhi, 'with regard to his honour or his wealth.'

'Before the time when there will be neither dinar nor dirham' - i.e., the Day of Resurrection. 'Some of the person's evil deeds (sayi'aat) will be taken' - i.e., they will be taken from the account of the person who was wronged. 'And given to him to bear' - i.e., they will be added to the account of the wrongdoer." [Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari] ['Islam: Questions And Answers - The Heart Softeners' (Part 2), Volume 16, by Muhammad Saed Abdul-Rahman, pg. 76-77]

Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: "The one who is bankrupt among my Ummah [community] is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayers, fasts and Zakah (i.e. good deeds) to his credit, but he will come having slandered one person and shed the blood of another and wrongfully consumed the wealth of a third, so (his victims) will be given some of his hasanaat (good deeds), and if his hasanaat (good deeds) run out before the score is settled, some of their sins will be taken and thrown onto him, and he will be thrown into Hell." [Muslim 32:6251]

So even though he has done many good deeds, e.g. prayers, fasts and charity, since he hurled abuses upon others, brought calumny against others and unlawfully consumed the wealth of others and shed the blood of others and beat others, his virtues (i.e. good deeds) would be credited to the account of one who suffered at his hand. And if his good deeds fall short to clear the account, then the sins of the one he backbit would be entered in his account and he would be thrown in the Hell-Fire.

This means, when you backbite, you will be giving your good deeds away to the one you are backbiting on the Day of Judgement. And when your good deeds have run out, the bad deeds (i.e. sins) of the one who have backbitten will be thrown onto you. What a great disaster it is for the one who cannot control his tiny delicate flesh (i.e. tongue) which lies in his mouth!

Yasir Qadhi said: "The tongue is but a small, soft flesh. Yet it is capable of breaking the strongest bonds and destroying the most powerful of relationships." 

SECTION 7 

Reward and Thank your Backbiter with Gifts - Why?

A man said to Al-Hasan Al-Basri (رحمه الله): "Indeed, someone has backbitten you." Hasan sent a dish of sweet dates to the backbiter and he said: "I heard that you have given me your good deeds as a gift so I would like to repay you for it, but please excuse me because I am unable to completely repay you." [Bariqah Mahmudiyyah 257]

Sufyan at-Thawri (رحمه الله) said: "It’s amazing how Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله) never backbites. I’ve never even heard him backbite his enemies!"

And Sufyan at-Thawri (رحمه الله) said: "Abu Hanifah is more intelligent than to let someone run away with all his good deeds!" or ("Abu Hanifah is not such a fool that he will destroy his own good deeds")!

Kamal El Mekki said: "Sufyan at-Thawri (رحمه الله) said: 'I have never seen Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) backbiting anyone. Abu Hanifa is too intelligent to let someone to go away with his good deeds.' This means that if you backbite people, they take from your good deeds on the Day of Judgement... Some people said to Sufyan at-Thawri (رحمه الله): 'These people are talking bad about you.' Sufyan at-Thawri sent them a bowl of dates with a message that said, 'It has come to my attention that you have given me some of your good deeds. I couldn't find anything to thank you with except this bowl of dates so please accept it from me.'" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKzCIuTRAwE] 

So next time, before you backbite, ask yourself: "Would you like to give away your good deeds and receive another's bad deeds on your balance of deeds on the Day of Judgement?!"

What an affliction it would be, 
that on your scale of deeds you should see,
evil deeds that you did not commit!
To find they're the bad deeds of the one you had backbit!
Transferred onto you for the crimes of your tongue!
Then you would have preferred to live life dumb!
For the evils of gheebah were not worth your "fun"!
To have all your good deeds wiped out;
to have all your good deeds gone!
Because you could not control a small flesh in your mouth!

Ibn Al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) said: "There is nothing on earth that badly needs to be imprisoned more than the tongue." [Al-Fawa'id, pg. 249]

SECTION 8

Exceptions to Backbiting

In An-Nawawi's book called 'Riyadh as-Saliheen', the 256th Chapter is titled, 'Some cases where it is permissible to backbite.'

Backbiting is permissible only for valid reasons approved by Shari'ah (Islamic Law). 

"One of the scholars summed up in two lines of poetry the situations in which it is permissible to talk about a person in his absence, and said:  'Criticizing is not gheebah (backbiting) in six (cases) –  (1) complaining, (2) identifying, (3) warning, (4) when the person is committing evil openly, (5) when advice is sought, (6) and when one is asking for help in removing an evil.'" [Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah li’l-Ifta]

An-Nawawi (رحمه الله) mentioned these following 6 points:

1. It is permissible for an oppressed person to speak before the judge or someone in a similar position of authority to help him or her establish his or her rights by telling him, 'so-and-so wronged me and has done such-and-such to me', etc. [(1) Complaining]

2. It is permissible to seek somebody's assistance in forbidding evil and helping someone change his or her immoral conduct. One can say to the person who can offer such assistance, 'so-and-so does such-and-such evil deeds. Can you exhort him?' etc. This is permissible as long as one intends to forbid evil. If, however, one tends something else apart from this, then this act becomes unlawful. [(6) When one is asking for help in removing an evil]

3. One who seeks legal verdict on a certain matter may point out the defaults of another person or relate something else. One in this case can say to the Mufti (religious scholar who issues verdicts): "My father or brother (for example) treated me unjustly. Can I get my right established?" etc. This is permissible to say only if need be, but it is better to say, 'What do you think of someone who did such-and-such?' This does not mean, however, that naming the person in question is not permissible, Hadith no. 1535 makes this point clear. [(5) When advice is sought]

4. One who criticizes those who openly commit acts of disobedience, such as drinking wine, gambling, engaging in immoral habits, fornication, hypocrisy, and making mischief. [(4) When the person is committing evil openly]

5. It is permissible to call into question the narrators of Hadith, and witnesses in the court when the need arises. It is also permissible to mention the bad qualities of somebody for marriage purposes in case an advice is sought. Also, if one has noticed that a 'seeker of knowledge' frequently goes to the gatherings of an innovator in religion and one fears that his 'seeker of knowledge' may be affected by this so-called scholar, then he must in this case give counsel to the 'seeker of knowledge' by telling him about the 'innovator', etc. [(3) Warning]

6. It is permissible to use names such as "Al-a'mash" which means 'the blear-eyed' to talk about people who are known by such names for the sake of identification and not for disparaging people and underestimating them. To identify them without resorting to such names is however better. [(2) identifying]

Evidence for these exceptional points:

• Point 3: "One who seeks legal verdict on a certain matter may point out the defaults of another person..." [(5) When advice is sought]

Aisha (رضي الله عنها) said: "Hind bint Utbah (رضي الله عنها) - the wife of Abu Sufyan (رضي الله عنه) - said to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم): 'O Messenger of Allah! Abu Sufyan is a miserly man and does not give me and my children adequate provisions for maintenance unless I take something from his possession without his knowledge.' The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said to her: 'Take what is sufficient for you and your children, and the amount should be just and reasonable (with no extravagance).'" [Bukhari 3:34:413; 3:43:640; 7:64:272; 8:78:636] [Muslim 18:4253-4254] [Bulugh al-Maram by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (d. 852 A.H.), p. 421. (Hadith no. 1179)] [Riyadh as-Saliheen, no. 1535] 

We learn from this Hadith that, in order to know religious injunctions, husband and wife can mention each-other's shortcomings before a Mufti (religious scholar who is in a position to issue verdicts on religious matters).

• Point 4: "One who criticizes those who openly commit acts of disobedience..." [(4) When the person is committing evil openly]

1. Aisha (رضي الله عنها) said: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: "I do not think that so-and-so understands anything of our Faith." [Bukhari] [Riyadh as-Saliheen, no. 1532]

Al-Laith ibn Sa'd, one of the narrators of this Hadith, said: "The two men mentioned by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in this Hadith were hypocrites (i.e., they revealed Faith but concealed disbelief)."

2. Zayd ibn Wahb reported that a man was brought before Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رحمه الله) because his beard was giving out smell of wine and his beard was dripping with wine (alcohol). Ibn Mas'ud (رحمه الله) said: "We have been prohibited from spying (on Muslims) and finding faults (with them). But we can take to task only and only if the sin is overt (manifest)." [Abu Dawud 41:4872] [Riyadh as-Saliheen, no. 1572]

Here we see a key Islamic principle: to hide and/or seek excuses for people's faults; not to occupy our time searching for people's faults/sins; and to take appropriate actions against sins which are openly committed, not basing our judgments on suspicion and assumptions. 

A person guilty of drinking was brought in front of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) and his beard dripping with the alcoholic drink. But since he himself hadn't seen the man drinking, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) said: "We have been forbidden to seek out people's weaknesses. Yes, if a crime is committed openly we will punish it."

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid said: "If he accidentally sees him in a doubtful place or seeming to behave in a doubtful manner, he should not accuse him unless he sees him with his own eyes doing a wrongful action...he should not broadcast it unless the person does the evil action openly, because this will only help the Shaytaan (Satan) against him and stop him from repenting. And Allaah knows best." 

Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: "The servant (who conceals) the faults of others in this world, Allah would conceal his faults on the Day of Resurrection." [Muslim 32:6267]

Shaykh 'Abd Al-Aziz ibn Baz said: "If someone sees from his brother (for the sake of Allah) something private (i.e. a sin) then don’t expose him nor spread it between the people. Rather cover it for him, advise him, direct him towards good, calling him to make Tawbah (repentance) to Allah from that, and do not expose him to the people. And whoever does this and covers for his brother, Allah will cover for him in this world and the next. Because the reward is according to the action. As for those that expose sins and don’t have shyness, exposing themselves to the people; then they shame themselves. Therefore, they are not the ones that you cover up for. Like the one that drinks alcohol in front of the people, in the market and gathering places, they have shamed themselves. I ask Allah Al-'Afiya (wellness). In addition, the one that does other transgressions openly and doesn’t care, then his affair is to be taken to the guardians [those in charge of affairs]. If they will be a deterrence for those like him and uphold the punishment on him then raise his affair [to them]. For this is not the place to cover up the one who exposes and announces his sins."

So if a person sins in private, why should you expose his/her sin into the public and spread cheap gossip among people?

Umar ibn Al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) said: “Verily, in the time of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) the people would be judged by revelation, but the revelation has ended. Now we judge you according to your outward deeds. Whoever shows us good, we will trust him and favor him and it is not for us to judge his inner secrets, for Allah will hold him accountable for those. Whoever shows us evil, then we will not trust him or believe in him even if he claims his intention is good.” [Bukhari 3:48:809]

Hamdun al-Qassar (رحمه الله) said: "If a friend among your friends errs (makes an error), make seventy excuses for them. If your hearts are unable to do this, then know that the shortcoming is in your own selves." [Imam Bayhaqi in his Shu'ab al-Iman (7.522)]

Ja'far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (رحمه الله) said: "If you see something you do not like in your brother, try to find from one to seventy excuses for him. If you cannot find an excuse, say, 'There might be an excuse, but I do not know it.'" [Al-Bayhaqi in Shu'b Al-Iman, 7853]

One of the righteous people said: "If I see someone with alcohol dripping from his beard, then I’ll say perhaps it spilled on him. And if I see him on top of a mountain saying, ‘I am your Lord Most High’ (أنا ربكم الأعلى), then I’ll say, 'he’s reciting an ayah (verse) from the Quran.'"

3. Zaid ibn Al-Arqam (رضي الله عنه) said: We set out on a journey along with the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and people suffered from the lack of provisions. Abdullah ibn Ubai ibn Salul (the chief of the hypocrites of Madinah) said to his friends: "Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah until they desert him." He also said: "If we return to Madinah, the more honourable (meaning himself, i.e., Abdullah ibn Ubaiy) will drive out therefrom the meaner (meaning Messenger of Allah)." I (i.e. Zaid) went to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and informed him about that and he sent someone to Abdullah ibn Ubai ibn Salul. He (صلى الله عليه و سلم) asked him whether he had said that or not. Abdullah took an oath that he had not done anything of that sort and said that it was Zaid who carried a false tale to the Messenger of Allah. 

Zaid (رضي الله عنه) said: "I was so much distressed because of this until this Verse was revealed verifying my statement: 'When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad), they say: 'We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.' Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger, and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed.' (Quran 63:1) Then the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) called the hypocrites in order to seek forgiveness for them from Allah, but they turned away their heads." [Bukhari 6:60:423-427; Muslim 38:6677] [Riyadh as-Saliheen, no. 1534]

Commentary: Abdullah ibn Ubai ibn Salul was the chief of the hypocrites at Madinah. In the journey mentioned in this Hadith, which was undertaken in connection with the war with Banu Al-Mustaliq, he had used improper words against the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and Muslims, which were overheard by Zaid ibn Al-Arqam (رحمه الله). The latter informed the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) about this occurrence. This incident goes to prove that exposing the designs and conspiracies of hypocrites does not form backbiting. In fact, it is essential to keep people informed about them in the interest of Islam and Muslims.

• Point 5: "...It is also permissible to mention the bad qualities of somebody for marriage purposes in case an advice is sought..." [(3) Warning]

Fatimah bint Qais (رضي الله عنها), a female Companion of the Prophet, said: I came to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and said to him: "Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan, Abul-Jahm and Usamah Zaid sent me a proposal of marriage." The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: "Mu'awiyah is a poor man without any property, and Abul-Jahm is very harsh with women (i.e. is a great beater of women). Marry Usamah." So I married him and I was envied (by others). [Muslim 9:3512; 9:3526; 9:3527] [Riyadh as-Saliheen, no. 1533]

Commentary: We learn from this Hadith that it is permissible to mention the true facts, virtues and vices without equivocation (i.e. without the use of ambiguous or unclear language) about the parties who intend to enter into wedlock provided one does it for their welfare.

• Point 5: "...one fears that his 'seeker of knowledge' may be affected by this so-called scholar, then he must in this case give counsel to the 'seeker of knowledge' by telling him about the 'innovator', etc." [(3) Warning]

Aisha (رضي الله عنها) reported that a person sought permission from Allah's Apostle (صلى الله عليه و سلم) to see him. He said: "Grant him permission. He is a bad son of his tribe or he is a bad person of his tribe." When he came in he used kind words for him. [Muslim 32:6268]

Ibn Hajr (رحمه الله) said: "...whoever would know something [bad] about a person and would fear that others might be deluded by his outward goodness, and would consequently fall into jeopardy, then he should tell them about that person's bad attribute(s) as an advice..."

Al-Qurtubi (رحمه الله) said: "This hadith states the permissibility of backbiting on the one who declares immorality, obscenity, tyranny in authority, or calling others to innovation in religion provided that it is valid to comply with them in order to avoid their harm, however this should not lead into cajolery on the expense of Allah's religion....and the difference between Mudaraat (compliance) and Mudahanah (cajolery) is that compliance is exerting dunya (worldly matters) for the sake of worldly matters or religion or even both. That is permissible, and may be even desirable. While cajolery is exerting deen (religion) for the sake of worldly matters. Verily the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) exerted to him from his worldly matters his good companionship and gentleness in speech, however he didn't praise him in speech, so his words about him would contradict his deeds. Therefore, what he said about him is true, and what he granted him was good companionship, and thus the ambiguity is removed and praise be to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى)."

Iyaadd said: "Uyaynah wasn't a Muslim yet at that time - Allah knows best - hence, talking about him wasn't considered as backbiting, or may be he embraced Islam, but he wasn't really a good Muslim, so the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) wanted to demonstrate that so those who did not know his true inner feelings would not be deluded. During the lifetime of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and also after his death, he had shown some signs of weak faith, therefore the description of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) is one of the evidences of his Prophethood. As for softening the speech for him after he entered, this was in order to make him feel at ease. Then he mentioned that which is similar to what was stated. This hadith is a foundation in Mudaraat (compliance), and in the permissibility of backbiting on the people of disbelief and obscenity" and the like and Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best." [Ibn Hajar Al Asqalani, Fathul Bari, Kitab: Al Adab, Bab: Lam Yakunn Al Nabai Sallah Allaahu 'Alayhi Wa Sallam Faahishaan wa laa Mutafahishan, Commentary on Hadith no. 5572]

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) had to let people know about the negative aspects of the man in order to caution or warn them so that they may not get harmed by the man's ill effects. 

Conclusion

Backbiting is permitted under 6 exceptional circumstances, that is, an oppressed or wronged person asking for his/her rights before a judge or person in authority; getting a legal verdict (fatwa) on a matter from a Mufti; seeking someone's help in forbidding evil to stop someone's bad behaviour and bring him back to the right path; criticizing/speaking out openly about those who openly commit evil deeds; criticizing narrators of hadith and witnesses in court; mentioning bad qualities of someone for marriage purposes for advice and warning; warning someone against an innovator or bad person; identifying someone with a nickname/description e.g. if someone's known by nicknames such as "the blind man" or "the disabled one", however, this is only permissible if you're not belittling them and it's better to identify him/her another way.

As you can see, all of the exceptions are not merely for the sake of foolish entertainment or disparaging someone or for evil malicious reasons, stemming from entertainment, mockery, ridicule or jealousy and envy like we understand backbiting to be, but they have a meaningful, useful and beneficial purpose. For example, the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said to a woman (Fatimah bint Qays) to not marry a certain man because he was harsh on women. Another example is that scholars have evaluated or criticized Hadith transmitters, for example, saying this one has a weak memory, or this one in his old age ended up having a weak memory, this one is a liar, this one is a fabricator, etc for the benefit of acquiring authentic narrations for the religion of Islam. All these exceptional cases come with good purposes and beneficial reasons, by way of sincere advice or other legitimate reasons, and not with the aim of causing harm and spreading mischief. 

"Speaking about a person in his absence is permissible in certain situations as indicated by Islamic Legal (Shari'ah) evidence, if there is a need for that, such as if someone consults you about arranging a marriage to him, or entering into a business partnership with him, or if someone complains to the authorities to put a stop to his wrongdoing. In that case there is nothing wrong with saying things about him that he may not like to be said, because there is an interest to be served by that." [Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah li’l-Ifta]

We end with a beautiful saying of our final Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم) in which he advised his followers: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him say something good or else remain silent." [Bukhari 8:73:47] [Muslim 1:78]

So let us guard our tongues,
for every breath we take from our lungs,
is also from Allah's blessing,
so how can we then be backbiting,
knowing every breath is by Him?

Ibn Abi ad-Dunya mentioned that Prophet Dawud (عليه السلام) asked Allah (سبحانه و تعالى):
"What is the least of Your blessings?"
Allah revealed to him: "O Dawud, take a breath."
Dawud did so, and Allah told him:
"This is the least of My blessings on you."
['Patience and Gratitude' by Ibn Al-Qayyim, pg. 70]

Prophets Defiled VS Defended

Words of men detected in what was once a pure text.
A tainting that will leave you perplexed.
The chosen ones by the Creator of the Universe;
role models looked upto like the stars in the night sky;
Attributed to them are lies after lie!
Lewdness and indecency, verse after verse,
To who? To the Prophets of the Most High!
In Islam, the Prophets are held in high esteem,
but these books have given them a clashing theme;
instead of the best of mankind whose actions are our guide
they've turned into the worst of mankind whose actions are despised.

As we shift from the Quran to the Bible,
rather than 'role models' as their respected Title,
you must, in-fact, act counter to these figures;
for attributed to them are actions that'll give you shivers.
The Bible has been tampered by the hands of men;
these men have defiled the Book with the stroke of a tinkering pen!

Compare the narratives of the two Scriptures,
and you will paint two entirely different pictures!
Wherever the previous record (i.e. Bible) has cast slurs on the character of Prophets, 
the Quran vindicated it and has removed such abominable defects.
By doing away with the profanity of sacred history,
the Quran has rendered immense service to the Bible itself and is not its adversary!
A serious study of the Bible will lead to the most debase discovery;
you will find unthinkable fabrications against the Prophets of the Almighty.
Woeful slanders such as Noah's drunkenness,
and Lot's committing adultery with his own two daughters;
Such abhorrent falsehood are attributed to the gems of the world;
Such defamation of Chosen Ones nauseates the believer's mind;
for they are attributed to the greatest among mankind!

This is Defended VS Defiled.

Included in this piece are:

SECTION I
- slanders and accusations against Prophets of God (e.g. Noah, Lot, David, Jesus, etc) in the Bible and the Quran's corrections of it;
- dissimilarities (or contradictions) between in the Bible and Quran of some Prophetic narratives, showing how the Quran is actually flawless and orderly compared to the Biblical narratives.

SECTION II
- slanders and lies attributed to even God/Allah Himself in the Bible.

SECTION III
- sins of the Prophets...do they sin?


SECTION I

■ Adam (عليه السلام)

It is now time for you to fathom,
that the deceiver (Satan),
tempted Eve, who in turn, tempted Adam.

"She [Eve] saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious...
So she took some of the fruit and ate it.
Then she gave some to her husband [Adam], who was with her,
and he ate it, too." (Genesis 3:6)

"And to Adam he said, 'Because you have listened to your wife
and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you...'" (Genesis 3:17)

"Sin began with a woman and because of her all of us die." (Sirach 25:24)

Now let us turn to the Quran...
Examine how this divine writ
dismantles this unjust lie!
Listen to His word:
"And Adam and his wife ate of it...
And Adam disobeyed his Lord and erred." (Quran 20:121)

Fatimah Nasreef said: "Was not Eve the one who - as they say - tempted Adam and led him to eat from the forbidden tree as mentioned in Genesis? The noble Qur'an denies this false accusation and makes it clear that both Adam and Eve were responsible for their ejection from Paradise. The prohibition was directed to both of them... Both of them disobeyed God and together were tempted by Satan... Hence Islam exonerates woman from the sin that has been attributed to her, denying that she was responsible for Adam's ejection from Paradise." [Fatimah Nasreef, Women in Islam, p. 56-57]

■ Noah (Nuh) (عليه السلام)

Noah, one of the Uloo’l-‘Azm, (Messengers of strong will) (Quran 46:35)
Is reduced in the Bible as someone degraded;
as if his honour and nobility were rolled down a hill,
and submerged into a pit of mud, completely sunken.
Not only does the Bible make Noah drunken,
but he was drunken to such an extent that he became naked:
"And he [Noah] drank of the wine and was drunken and he was uncovered within his tent." (Genesis 9:21).

Thus the cloth of honour is stripped away,
and in his drunken state he lay.
This how you reinvent
against the one whom Allah sent!

“And Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon their father [Noah],
and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.” (Genesis 10:123)

■ Lot (Lut) (عليه السلام)

Lot too is not spared of repugnant fabrication;
he's also attributed to be in a state of intoxication!
But with Lot, you went further with your transgression.

- Drunkenness;
- Nakedness;

What comes after is... incest!!

Reflect upon,
Enlighten yourself,
Build your courage and
inspire yourself
with the stories of the Prophets!

For more lies and worse slander, Prophet Lot comes next!
Genesis 19:30-38 speaks of Lot's incestuous and adulterous sexual intercourse with his own two daughters in a state of intoxication.
And his own two daughters bore a son each from these two nights of fabrication!

"And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.
And the firstborn said unto the younger, 'Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.'
And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day." (Genesis 19:30-38)

It is as if you collected all the world's most vile sins and dropped them on the back of Allah's Prophets!
You would not dare to attribute these despicable acts to even the most debase of humankind!
So how could you attribute them to the most praised of humankind!?
Those who were sent by the Creator Himself,
chosen as a guide from the Perfect One above.
Is this the role model you speak of?
Is this the one you hold and love?

Prophet Lot (عليه السلام) said: “Will you not fear God and obey Him? Verily! I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. So fear God and obey me. No reward do I ask of you for it (my Message) my reward is only from the Lord of all that exists.” (Quran 26:161-164)

Prophet Lot (عليه السلام) said to his people who committed homosexuality:
“Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds [i.e., peoples]? Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women.  Rather, you are a transgressing people." (Quran 26:165-166)

How can you attribute incest to the one who spoke earnestly against homosexuality?
If he called those who perform the homosexual act as transgressors,
then surely it is the same for those who are incestuous, adulterous, and drunkards - all at the same time!

■ Joseph (Yusuf) (عليه السلام) and Jacob (Ya'qub) (عليه السلام)

► Joseph's dream:

Prophet Joseph (عليه السلام) saw a dream (vision):
"Joseph said to his father (Jacob), 'O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me.'" (Quran 12:4)

In the Biblical narrative, Jacob rebukes his son Joseph on account of this dream:
"When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, 'What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?' (Genesis 37:10)

Ellicott's Commentary reads: "His father rebuked him.—In making the sun and moon bow down before him. Joseph’s dream seemed to violate the respect due to parents. As Jacob probably regarded his son’s dreams as the result of his letting his fancy dwell upon ideas of self-exaltation, he rightly rebuked him."

Beson's Commentary reads: "His father rebuked him — Not through anger or contempt of his dream, for it follows, he observed it; but partly lest Joseph should be elated with the idea of superiority over his brethren, and give place to pride on account of his dreams, and principally to allay the envy and hatred of his brethren. In his thus rebuking him, although in regard to Joseph without cause, Jacob is an example worthy of the imitation of all parents, who, when they observe any appearance of arrogance, self-exaltation, or aspiring after high things in any of their children, ought always to check it, as being a sinful disposition, and often productive of very evil consequences."

Pulpit's Commentary reads: "And his father rebuked him, - either to avoid irritating his brethren (Calvin), or to repress an appearance of pride in Joseph (Lange, Murphy, Inglis), or to express his own surprise (Candlish) or irritation (Keil), or sense of the absurdity of the dream (Lawson)."

On the hand hand, in the Quran, Jacob saw Joseph's future greatness in this vision and he (Jacob) said:
"And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of narratives and complete His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He completed it upon your fathers before, Abraham and Isaac. Indeed, your Lord is Knowing and Wise." (Quran 12:6)

It is noteworthy that the Biblical narrative shows Jacob rebuking Joseph for his dream, but at the same time "observed the saying", showing that Jacob was convinced of the truth of Joseph's dream.
"His (i.e. Joseph's) brothers were jealous of him, but his father (i.e. Jacob) kept the saying in mind." (Genesis 37:11)

The Quranic narrative shows that wherever it contradicts the Bible, it removes in fact its inconsistencies.

"And he (i.e. Jospeh) raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, 'O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality. And He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you [here] from bedouin life after Satan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise.'" (Quran 12:100)

► Wolf

Let us look at what occurred when Joseph's brothers came to their father (Jacob) with false blood on their shirt, claiming it to be the blood of their brother Jospeh (عليه السلام).

According to the Quran, Jacob (عليه السلام) doubted their sincerity and chose to be patient. "And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, 'Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe.'" (Quran 12:18)

Not so according to the Bible where Prophet Jacob believes with certainty the lie that Joseph was killed by a wolf: "And he (Jacob) knew and said, 'It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.'" (Genesis 37:33)

■ Moses (Musa) (عليه السلام)

The Bible accuses Moses - another of the 5 strong willed Prophets of Allah (Quran 46:35) - of improprieties and ultimately depicts him as someone who had betrayed God!

"The LORD spoke to Moses that very same day, saying...'because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel.'" (Deuteronomy 32: 48-52)

On the other hand, the most mentioned Prophet and Messenger in the Quran, by name, is who? Moses (عليه السلام)!

“Verily, We did send down the Torah to Moses, therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to God's Will, judged the Jews.  And the rabbis and the priests too judged the Jews by the Torah for to them was entrusted the protection of God's Book, and they were witnesses thereto.” (Quran 5:44)

■ Aaron (Harun) (عليه السلام)

► Golden Calf

The chief point in which the Quran makes a departure from the Bible is Aaron's alleged making of a calf for the Israelites to worship:

"Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, 'Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' Aaron said to them, 'Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.' Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, 'This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.'" (Exodus 32:1-4)

Unlike the Exodus narration, the Quran does not connect Prophet Aaron (عليه السلام) with the making or worship of the calf. The Quran mentions that it was the Israelite Samiri ("the Samaritan"), not Aaron, who was responsible for introducing the worship of the calf:
[Allah] said, "But indeed, We have tried your people after you [departed], and the Samiri has led them astray." (Quran 20:85)

The Quran not only clears Aaron (عليه السلام) of idol-making, but shows him as plainly warning the Israelities because of their worship of the calf: "And Aaron indeed had said to them before: 'O my people you are only tried by it, and surely your Lord is the Beneficent God, so follow me and obey my order.'" (Quran 20:90)

The Quran mentions: {[Allah] said, "But indeed, We have tried your people after you [departed], and the Samiri has led them astray." ...Did they not see that it could not return to them any speech and that it did not possess for them any harm or benefit? And Aaron had already told them before [the return of Moses], "O my people, you are only being tested by it, and indeed, your Lord is the Most Merciful, so follow me and obey my order." They said, "We will never cease being devoted to the calf until Moses returns to us." ...And look at your 'god' to which you remained devoted. We will surely burn it and blow it into the sea with a blast. Your god is only Allah , except for whom there is no deity. He has encompassed all things in knowledge."} (Quran 20:85-98)

Another passage in the Quran mentions: {"And the people of Moses made, after [his departure], from their ornaments a calf - an image having a lowing sound. Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor guide them to a way? They took it [for worship], and they were wrongdoers. And when regret overcame them and they saw that they had gone astray, they said, "If our Lord does not have mercy upon us and forgive us, we will surely be among the losers." And when Moses returned to his people, angry and grieved, he said, "How wretched is that by which you have replaced me after [my departure]. Were you impatient over the matter of your Lord?" And he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by [the hair of] his head (i.e. his beard), pulling him toward him. [Aaron] said, 'O son of my mother, indeed the people oppressed me and were about to kill me, so let not the enemies rejoice over me and do not place me among the wrongdoing people.' [Moses] said, 'My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the most merciful of the merciful.' Indeed, those who took the calf [for worship] will obtain anger from their Lord and humiliation in the life of this world, and thus do We recompense the inventors [of falsehood]. But those who committed misdeeds and then repented after them and believed - indeed your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful."} (Quran 7:148-156)

Contrary to the Biblical account in Exodus, the Quran does not accuse Prophet Aaron of having actually participated in making or worshipping the golden calf. In the Bible, Prophet Aaron is said to have introduced the worship of the golden calf. The Quran clears him of such a detestable accusation.

Allah says: "Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms]." (Quran 4:163)

And what were these Prophets (including Aaron) sent with?
Allah says: "We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad) but We inspired him (saying): La ilaha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah)], so worship Me (Alone and none else)." (Quran 21:25)

So how can the one whose mission is to proclaim the message of Pure and Strict Monotheism (Tawhid) be the one who introduces the worshipping of an animal!!?

Would God send one who does the complete opposite of what he's sent with?!

■ David (Dawud) (عليه السلام)

► David committing adultery with Bathsheba

It it written that David watched Bathsheba, the wife of his neighbour Uriah, in the nude taking a bath, and he succumbed to her attraction and sent messengers to get her and have sexual relations with her. The following is the passage wherein David is accused of committing adultery with his neighbour Uriah's wife and subsequently having a child with her:

"And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, 'Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?' And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he had sexual relations with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, 'I am pregnant.'" (2 Samuel 11:2-5)

As we continue reading, David later wants Uriah dead:
"And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, 'Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.' And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also." (2 Samuel 11:14-17)

In today’s European museums there are paintings illustrating David’s watching Bathsheba in the nude, being sexual with her and dispatching Uriah to death.

Jack Wellman, a Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas, explained the whole ordeal in clear detail, saying: {In 2 Samuel 11:3 David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”  The man was trying to tell David that Bathsheba was already married, indicating that the king was about to commit a huge mistake but David ignored him and “sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, 'I am pregnant' (1 Sam 11:4-5)."  Something else here to note is that she was still not fully done “purifying herself from her uncleanness” so this was sin too....

All of this murderous sin came out of David not being where he should have been, with the army in battle during the spring. Then it was David seeing Bathsheba bathing and not immediately looking away.  Next it was David inquiring about her and then ignoring the fact that she was married. After this he sent for her and committed adultery with her.  He then committed conspiracy to commit murder and then had Uriah and several others killed, all of whom were innocent. Then callously saying to Joab in effect, “Oh well, that’s war for you.  Don’t worry about it.” Sin has a paralyzing effect on our commons sense. When we sin, we try to cover it up with yet another sin. The result was that David and Bathsheba’s baby died.  So there is yet another innocent victim…the baby. God does not hesitate to show us how even the heroes of the faith make huge mistakes and then reveal the consequences of these mistakes so that we might learn that sin comes at great cost…the blood of innocent people.} [Article by Jack Wellman, Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. (April 27, 2014) http://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2014/04/27/david-and-bathsheba-bible-story-summary-lessons-and-study/]

Caliph Ali (رضي الله عنه), when he heard the false story related about David, said: "Whoever shall relate the story of David as the story-tellers relate it, I will give him 160 stripes, and this is the punishment of those who falsely charge the Prophets."

This incident is related by the great commentator, Imam Fakhr-ud-Din Razi, who also says: "Most of the learned and those who have searched for the truth among them declare this charge to be false and condemn it as a lie and as a mischievous story."

"The charge of adultery brought against David... the learned Muslim theologians and commentators treat it as a sheer falsehood. Thus Imam Fakhr-ud-Din Razi, the greatest of the commentators, who has written the Tafsir-i-Kabir, says in relation to this point: 'Most of the commentators who are learned and have searched for the truth, falsify this charge (i.e., the charge of adultery against David) and condemn it as a great lie and a mischievous story.' Not only this, but Caliph Ali when he heard the false charge, caused it to be announced: 'Whoever shall relate the story of David as the story-tellers relate it, I will give him 160 stripes, for such is the punishment of thsoe who lay false charges against the Prophets of God.' The Caliph doubled the punishment, for, as he gave his reason further on, when a false charge of adultery against an ordinary believer was to be punished with eighty stripes, it was necessary that in the case of such a false charge against a Prophet of God to whom no sin could be ascribed, the punishment should at least be doubled." [The Review of Religions, (August 1903), pg. 290-291] [http://introducingislam.org/info/infallibility/chapter4.php] [http://quranandbible.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/david-in-bible-and-quran.html]

The Bible story that David committed adultery is thus rejected by Islam as a false charge against a Prophet of Allah. On the other hand, the Quran speaks of David (عليه السلام) in terms of highest praise: "Surely he had a nearness to Us and an excellent resort." (Quran 38:25).

"...remember Our servant, David, the possessor of strength; indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back [to Allah]...And We strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and discernment in speech." (Quran 38:17-19)

► David's son Ammon is guilty of incest and the rape of his half sister (Tamar)

"But Amnon wouldn't listen to her, and since he was stronger than she was, he raped her." (2 Samuel 13:1-14)

Why did Amnon rape Tamar? Why didn’t David punish Amnon?

GotQuestions.org, who described themselves as 'a volunteer ministry of dedicated and trained servants who have a desire to assist others in their understanding of God, Scripture, salvation, and other spiritual topics. We are Christian, Protestant, conservative, evangelical, fundamental, and non-denominational. We view ourselves as a para-church ministry', answered this questions as follows:

"The sordid story of Amnon and Tamar is part of the disintegration of David’s family after his sin with Bathsheba...Amnon followed this evil plan. He asked for his half-sister to bring him some food, and Tamar, out of obedience to her father and the kindness of her heart, did so. Amnon sent everyone else out of the room and asked Tamar to come closer. Rather than take the food she offered, Amnon grabbed Tamar and tried to wrestle her into the bed. Tamar firmly refused the incestuous relationship, crying out, “No, my brother! ...Don’t do this wicked thing” (2 Samuel 13:12). Amnon then forced himself upon Tamar and raped her (2 Samuel 13:14)...David’s response was to become “furious” (2 Samuel 13:21), but he took no real action...Why didn’t David punish Amnon for his sin against Tamar? Many reasons have been suggested. One likely reason is that Amnon was David’s son and that David had been guilty of sexual sin himself (in the case of Bathsheba)—therefore, in the case of Amnon and Tamar, he felt inadequate to judge...David neglected justice..." [http://www.gotquestions.org/Amnon-and-Tamar.html]

■ Solomon (Sulayman) (عليه السلام)

Looking past the already horrific story of Solomon's mother, Bethsheba and David, great lies have also been attributed to Solomon (عليه السلام), the Prophet of Allah, as well.

 ► Solomon worshipping idols

Contrary to the Biblical account the Quran does not accuse Prophet Solomon (عليه السلام) of having committed idolatry and worshipping other gods besides Allah. In the Bible, Prophet Solomon is said to have worshipped other gods. The Quran clears him of such a detestable accusation.

Allah says: "Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms]." (Quran 4:163)

The Quran rejects the charge of idol-worship against Solomon, which the Bible alleges, saying:
"For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father." (1 Kings 11:4)

The Quran disposes of this charge in very few words, Allah says:
"It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved." (Quran 2:102)

This is Defiled VS Defended!

The Bible reads under the heading 'Solomon’s Idolatry'(!):
"King Solomon loved many foreign women in addition to Pharaoh’s daughter. He loved Hittite women and women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon. They came from the nations about which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “Never intermarry with them. They will surely tempt you to follow their gods.” But Solomon was obsessed with their love. He had 700 wives who were princesses and 300 wives who were concubines. In his old age, his wives tempted him to follow other gods. He was no longer committed to the Lord his God as his father David had been. Solomon followed Astarte (the goddess of the Sidonians) and Milcom (the disgusting idol of the Ammonites). So Solomon did what the Lord considered evil. He did not wholeheartedly follow the Lord as his father David had done. Then Solomon built an illegal worship site on the hill east of Jerusalem for Chemosh (the disgusting idol of Moab) and for Molech (the disgusting idol of the Ammonites). He did these things for each of his foreign wives who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. So the Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. God had given him commands about this. He told him not to follow other gods. But Solomon did not obey God’s command." (1 Kings 11:1-10)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary reads: "There is not a more melancholy and astonishing instance of human depravity in the sacred Scriptures, than that here recorded. Solomon became a public worshipper of abominable idols! Probably he by degrees gave way to pride and luxury, and thus lost his relish for true wisdom. Nothing forms in itself a security against the deceitfulness and depravity of the human heart."

How shameful to speak of a Prophet of Allah with such disrespectful and filthy words! Sins you would not even attribute to Satan himself are being attributed to the great Prophets of Allah!

Barnes' Notes on the Bible reads: "To gratify "strange women," i. e., foreigners, admitted either from worldly policy, or for variety's sake, he built magnificent temples to their false gods, right over against Jerusalem, as manifest rivals to "the temple." He thus became the author of a syncretism, which sought to blend together the worship of Yahweh and the worship of idols - a syncretism which possessed fatal attractions for the Jewish nation. Finally, he appears himself to have frequented the idol temples 1 Kings 11:5, 1 Kings 11:10, and to have taken part in those fearful impurities which constituted the worst horror of the idolatrous systems, thus practically apostatising, though theoretically he never ceased to hold that Yahweh was the true God."

And Jamieson-Fausset-Brown's Bible Commentary reads: "There seems no possibility of explaining the language of the sacred historian, but as intimating that Solomon became an actual and open idolater, worshipping images of wood or stone in sight of the very temple which, in early life, he had erected to the true God. Hence that part of Olivet was called the high place of Tophet (Jer 7:30-34), and the hill is still known as the Mount of Offense, of the Mount of Corruption (2Ki 23:13)."

And Benson's Commentary reads: "...they [i.e. Solomon's wives] obtained from him a public indulgence for their idol-worship, and possibly persuaded him to join with them sometimes in the outward acts of it; or at least, in their feasts upon their sacrifices, which was a participation of their idolatry. And his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God — He did not entirely forsake the service of Jehovah, but joined the worship of other gods with him, which he never could have done, after the true knowledge which he had of God, and the solemn profession he had made of adherence to him, unless he had been greatly fallen."

On the other hand, Pulpit's Commentary disagrees with this and reads: "Ewald says, "There is no evidence from ancient authorities that Solomon, even in advanced life, ever left the religion of Jahveh, and with his own hand sacrificed to heathen gods. All traces of contemporary history extant testify to the contrary" (vol. 3. p. 297)."

Rev. T.K. Cheyne also shows in the Encyclopaedia Biblica that the Bible statement is incorrect: "That Solomon had a number of wives, both Israelite and non-Israelite, is probable enough, but he did not make altars for all of them, nor did he himself combine the worship of his wives' gods with that of Yahweh." ['History of the Prophet's' by Maulana Muhammad Ali ', pg. 46]

How dare you say Solomon disbelieved and apostatized?
The Quran crumbles to dust what you have devised!
These are mankind's very best,
and any baseless lies against them will be put to the test.
And it is with Allah's statement regarding his Prophet, settling all disputes to rest:
"It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved." (Quran 2:102)

■ Jesus ('Isa) (عليه السلام)

► Ignoring Jesus' (عليه السلام) mission

The most important commandment Jesus taught was:
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." (Mark 12:28-31)

But you corrupted his message and his very nature,
by claiming him to be God's begotten son!

He came with the message of monotheism at its core:
Jesus (عليه السلام) said: "It is God Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight." (Quran 3:51)
But you went astray and added in more,
saying he taught that (1) he was the son of God (2) part of a Trinity (3) and died for people's sins!

Click on the following two links for greater information on Jesus and the truth:
Who is Jesus? http://catchislam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/who-is-jesus.html
Similarities: Adam & Jesus http://catchislam.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/similarities-adam-jesus.html

Conclusion

For a Muslim, the claims to be found in the Bible with regard to the prophets of God, and even God himself (see SECTION II), are monstrous and preposterous. One is hard pressed to find a single prophet or messenger who was not a drunkard, an idolater, an adulterer, guilty of incest...for example we find it mention Noah as a drunkard (Genesis 9:21) and Lot as a drunkard and being guilty of incest (Genesis 19:30-38).

"David the king commits adultery with Uriah’s wife (2 Samuel 11:3-4,15-18), Solomon's apostatizing and worshipping idols in his old age (1 Kings 4-9), Aaron fashioning an idol (the golden calf) for the Jews to worship (Exodus 32:1-4), are but a very few of the many allegations to be found in the current Bible. Incest is such a filthy word that even the most brazen sinner would be disgusted at such a thought. Are our highest examples of humankind less than these men?" ['What did Jesus really say' by Misha'al ibn Abdullah Al-Kadhi pg. 153-154]

The contrast between the Prophets of the Bible and of the Quran are entirely different.
While the Bible occasionally slanders and degrades them in the eyes of the reader,
the Quran exonerates them from these lies, puts them on a pedestal and reassures them as our beautiful guides.

SECTION II

■ Allah (God)

You would think the epitome of slander has been reached, but the Bible continues to increase in its absurd statements, even to God Himself. These are not the pure words of the Bible, but words men have inserted into the Bible:

► Regret and repentance for creating humans:

"And the LORD was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said: "I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created - people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found favour in the sigh of the Lord." (Genesis 6:5-8)

Whereas, Numbers 23:19, contradicts this, saying, "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent; hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

It is not possible to regret doing something unless the result of this action was something bad that had not been foreseen and can not be changed, and if this applies to God then the lie of attributing to Him lack of being All-Seeing and All-Knowing comes into place also.

► Lie that God sleeps:

Lie that God is not cognizant and/or is not eternally aware:
"Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever." (Psalms 44:23)

Slander that when God finally becomes cognizant attentive and aware, He acts like a drunkard:
"Then the LORD awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine." (Psalms 78:65)

► Lie against Allah that He rested on the 7th day:

"On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work." (Genesis 2:2)

"It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed." (Exodus 31:17)

This contradicts Isaiah 40:28, which reads: "God does not faint nor weary." 

Allah does not rest, nor does He get drowsy or sleep:

"Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him." (Quran 2:255)

And Allah said: "And indeed We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six Days and nothing of fatigue touched Us." (Quran 50:38)

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said: "He (Allah) told us that He created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six Days and that nothing of fatigue touched Him. He accused His enemies from among the Jews of lying when they said that Allah rested on the seventh day. Then He ordered His Prophet to follow His example and be patient toward what his enemies are saying about him, as Allah was patient toward what the Jews had said about Him. And there is no one more capable of being patient than Him. He ordered him to do something that will help him to be patient, and that is to glorify the Praises of His Lord, before the rising of the sun and before its setting (i.e. the Fajr, Zuhr, and 'Asr prayers), as well as during a part of the night also, glorify His praises (i.e. Maghrib and 'Isha prayers). Likewise there are more prayers other than the Fard (obligatory) prayers: (As-Sunnah, Nawafil, optional and additional prayers). It was said that after the 'Isha prayer is Al-Witr prayer (Odd prayer) and said it means the two rak'ahs after Maghrib (Sunset prayer). The first is the opinion of Ibn Abbas and the other is of Umar, Ali, Abu Hurairah, and Hasan ibn Ali. And there is a third opinion from Ibn Abbas that it means glorifying Allah verbally after every obligatory prayer." [Ibn Al-Qayyim's 'Al-Fawa'id': A Collection of Wise Sayings, pg. 23]

► Lies against Allah that He's part of a Trinity and has a son:

"O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One Allah. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender." (Quran 4:171)

"Say: He is Allah, the One!
Allah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks).
He begets not, nor was He begotten;
And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him." (Quran 112-1-4)

► How did Jacob get the name Israel? After wrestling God who could not defeat him!

"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, 'Let me go, for the day breaketh.' And he (Jacob) said, 'I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.' And he said unto him, 'What is thy name?' And he said, 'Jacob.' And he said, 'Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.' And Jacob asked him, and said, 'Tell me, I pray thee, thy name.' And he said, 'Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?' And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." (Genesis 32:24-30)

Misha'al ibn Abdullah Al-Kadhi said: "We are beaten with the fact that a human (Jacob) managed to out-wrestle God. Are we now to believe that God wrestled with Jacob all night, He resorted to hitting Jacob below the belt, and in the end was still bested by Jacob (“I will not let thee go, except thou bless me”)? When someone has you in a headlock and tells you: “do as I tell you,” is he victorious or not? Neither Moses nor Jacob would ever make such a claim. Nor would the other prophets of God. The great and noble prophets would never dare to claim that God had been reduced to a punching bag to further their own egos. Notice how it is not sufficient to humbly prostrate oneself before God, bowing down and beseeching Him for His favors in earnest prayer and in all submission. Rather it is necessary to slap Him silly and beat Him into the ground then force Him to bless the victor. Is this not preposterous? Does this not reek of tampering fingers?" ['What did Jesus really say' by Misha'al ibn Abdullah Al-Kadhi pg. 149]

[Moses] said, "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets." (Quran 20:52) Neither does Allah sleep, become weak, can be forced, eat, drink, beget children, etc. We say Subhan'Allah, what does this mean? 'Glory be to Allah, far above is He from every imperfection!'

"And far removed is Allah from every imperfection." (Quran 27:8-9)

SECTION II

Sins of Prophets

Ibn Taymiyyah said: "The view that the Prophets were infallible against major sins but not minor sins is the view of the scholars of Islam, and of all different groups. It is even the view of most of ahl al-kalaam (Islamic philosophers - scholarstics), as was stated by Abu al-Hasan al-Aaamidi that this is the view of most of the Ash'aris. This is also the view of most of the scholars of tafseer and hadith, and the fuqahaa'. Indeed, it is not narrated that by of the salaf (pious predecessors), Imams, Sahabah (Prophet's Companions), Tabi'een (Students of the Companions) or succeeding generations said anything that went against this view..." [Majmoo' al-Fataawa 4/319]

The evidence for this view are:
1) Adam's (عليه السلام) sin of eating from the forbidden tree and his subsequent asking of forgiveness. (Quran 20:116-121; 7:23)
2) Noah's (عليه السلام) praying for his disbelieving son which he asked forgiveness for. (Quran 11:46-47)
3) Moses (عليه السلام) struck and killed an Egyptian man and then repented. (Quran 28:15-16)
4) David (عليه السلام) hastened to pass judgement before he had heard what the second party had to say and he repented. (Quran 38:24-25)
5) Jonah (عليه السلام) got angry with his people and left them, without permission from his Lord.
6) What the children of Jacob (عليه السلام) did to their brother Joseph when they threw him into the well, then Allah sent revelation to them and made them Prophets.
7) Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) when he forbade himself honey (Quran 66:1); Muhammad's frowning at the blind man Ibn Umm Maktoom (رضي الله عنه) when he was too busy to speak to him because he was preoccupied with trying to call the disbelieving Quraish chiefs to Islam. (Quran 80:1-4); Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) accepted a ransom from some of the prisoners captured at Badr (Quran 8:68). 

Allah has commanded us to follow the Messengers and take them as examples (Quran 33:21). The example that we should follow in this case is haste in repenting when one falls into sin, and not delaying that, following the example of the noble Messengers and Prophets who hastened to repent and did not put it off. It is known that no Prophet committed a sin but he hastened to repent and seek forgiveness. The Quran never mentions the sins of the Prophets but that it is accompanied by repentance and seeking forgiveness. After they repented they became more perfect than they had been before. We have to follow the examples of the Messengers and Prophets in hastening to repent and turn to Allah, always turning to Him and seeking His forgiveness. One of the Salaf said, "After he repented, David was better than he had been before he sinned." Another said, "If repentance were not the most beloved thing to Him, He would not have tested the noblest of creation with sin." In an authentic hadith, it is mentioned that Allah feels more joy at the repentance of His slave than a man who lost his camel in the wilderness, on which was his food and drink, then he fell asleep then when he awoke he found his camel standing by his head and said, 'O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your Lord!' making this mistake because of his intense joy. [Muslim Book 37, Hadith 6617]

"Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves." (Quran 2:222)

Shaykh Mustafa al-Maraaghi, the Shaykh of Al-Azhar University, said, "The Revelations did not offer infallibility to the Prophets in every action that they did. They were vulnerable to making mistakes, but they were distinguished from the rest of humanity by the fact that Allah did not let them persist in sin after it appeared, and He warned them for that on occasion." [Hayaat Muhammad by Haykal. See the Introduction to this book by Shaykh al-Maraaghi, p. 11]

['Messengers and the Messages' by Umar S. Al-Ashqar, p. 151-163]

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Prophet's Repentance - role models to follow:

Prophet Adam's du'a [supplication] to Allah in repentance was as follows: "Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers." (Quran 7:23)

Prophet Jonah's (Yunus') du'a [supplication] to Allah was as follows: "La ilaha illa Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah)], Glorified (and Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers." (Quran 21:87)

"He (Moses) said, 'My Lord!  Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.' Then He forgave him.  Verily, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful." (Quran 28:15-17)

----------

The Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, "The people (on the Day of Resurrection) will say: 'Do you see our (miserable) condition? You should look for someone who can intercede for you with your Rubb (Sustainer).' Some people will say to the others: 'Go to your father, Adam.' So they will go to Adam and say to him: 'You are the father of mankind; Allah created you with His Own Hand, and breathed into you of His spirit, ordered the angels to prostrate before you and He made you dwell in Jannah. So (please) intercede for us with your Rubb (Sustainer). Do you not see our (miserable) condition?' Adam will say: 'Today my Rubb (Sustainer) has become so angry as He has never been before, nor will He ever become angry after this. He forbade me to approach the tree, but I disobeyed Him. I am worried about myself. Go to someone else. Go to (Prophet) Nuh (Noah).'

They will come to Nuh and will say to him: 'O Nuh (Noah)! You are the first of Messenger of Allah to the people on the earth, and Allah has named you a grateful slave. Please intercede for us with your Rubb (Sustainer). Do you not see our (miserable) condition?' He (Noah) will say: 'Today my Rubb (Sustainer) his become so angry as He has never been before, nor will He become angry hereafter. I was granted the right to make one definitely accepted invocation. I availed of this opportunity and made it against my nation. I am worried about myself. Go to someone else. Go to (Prophet) Ibrahim (Abraham).'

They will go to Ibrahim and say to him: 'O Ibrahim (Abraham), you are Messenger of Allah and His Khalil (the intimate friend of Allah) from among the people of the earth; so please intercede for us with your Rubb (Sustainer). Don't you see our (miserable) condition?' He (Abraham) will say to them: 'Today my Rubb (Sustainer) has become so angry as He has never been before; nor will he ever be so hereafter. I had told three lies*. I am worried about myself. Go to someone else. Go to (Prophet) Musa (Moses).'

The people will then go to Musa (Moses) and say to him: 'O Musa (Moses)! You are Messenger of Allah and Allah gave you superiority above the others with His Message and with His direct Talk to you, so intercede for us with your Rubb (Sustainer_. Do you not see our (miserable) condition?' Musa (Moses) will say: 'Today my Rubb (Sustainer) has become so angry as he has never been before, nor will He ever be hereafter. I killed a man whom I had not been ordered to kill. I am worried about myself. Go to someone else. Go to (Prophet) 'Isa (Jesus).'

So they will go to 'Isa (Jesus) and say to him: 'O 'Isa (Jesus)! You are Messenger of Allah and His Word (i.e., "Be"- and he was) which he bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit created by Him; and you talked to the people while you were in the cradle. Please intercede for us with your Rubb (Sustainer). Do you not see our (miserable) condition?' 'Isa (Jesus) will say: 'Today my Rubb (Sustainer) has become so angry as He has never been before, nor will He ever be like this hereafter.' 'Isa will not mention any sin, but will say: 'I am worried about myself. Go to someone else. Go to Muhammad.'" [Bukhari and Muslim] [Riyadh as-Saliheen, no. 1866]

Commentary: The real reason for this attitude of theirs (i.e. the Prophets) is that they are on such high pedestal of greatness and piety that even a slight slip of theirs which does come under the boundary of unworthiness would be felt by them to be very significant. As Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) said: "The believer regards his sin as if he were sitting beneath a mountain which he fears may fall on him, whereas the sinner regards his sin as if a fly lands on his nose and he swipes it away.” ["I Want to Repent, But..." by Sheikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid]

Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم) [Prophet Muhammad] said: "O people, seek repentance from Allah. Verily, I seek repentance from Him a hundred times a day." [Muslim Book 35, Hadith 6523]

When Ibrahim (عليه السلام) said: "I had told three lies": "Who wouldn't like to have committed what Abraham, peace be upon him, committed when he lied at his statue-worshipping people when he said to them and his statement in order ot destroy their statues, and bring them to their senses? Who wouldn't like to say about his wife that she is his sister, in order to save her and himself from a tyrant non-believer who wanted to kill him and take away his wife? Yet, Abraham, peace be upon him, on the Day of Judgement says fearing his sin, 'I have lied three times.'" ['Hell-A Vision from Within' from islamweb.net, pg. 19]