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A Verdict From
Fatawa Razviyah Shareef
Volume 21

The Query
What is the Ruling of the Ulama e Deen concerning this Masala, that what
if a person swears at an Aalim or Faqih, or belittles him, then in such a
case, will the ruling of Kufr apply to him or not? And most common
people today swear at Aalims and belittle them and slander (backbite
against) them. (Explain and be rewarded)
The Answer
To make Gheebat of even a Jaahil (ignorant person) except for in certain
distinctive circumstances is Haraam e Qatai (conclusively forbidden) and
Gunah e Kabeera (a major sin). The Quran e Azeem has referred to it as
eating the flesh of your dead brother, and it has been mentioned in the
Hadith Shareef that Rasoolullah Sall Allahu alaihi wa Sallam said, Abstain
from Gheebat (backbiting/slander), for Gheebat is more harmful than
adultery (Zina). It sometimes happens that an adulterer (Zaani) sincerely
repents, so Allah accepts his repentance; but the one who commits
Gheebat will not be forgiven, until the person whom he has backbitten,
does not forgive him. [This has been reported by Ibn Abid Danya in Dham
Al Ghaybah and Abush Shaykh has reported in it At Tawbeekh from Jaabir
bin Abdullah and Abu Saeed Khudri (Radi Allahu taaala Anhum). [Ref: Al
Ghaybah Wa Al Nameema which is a Manuscript from the Manuscripts of
Ibn Abid Danya, Hadith 35 Vol.2 Pg.42]
Similarly, it is forbidden to slander (backbite about) any Muslim who is
even ignorant. Rasoolullah said, Everything belonging to a Muslim is
Haraam upon (another Muslim). His wealth, His Dignity and his blood (i.e.

to harm him in any way is forbidden). For a person to be regarded as a

bad (immoral) person, it is sufficient that he may look down on his fellow
Muslim brother (i.e. belittle him). [Sahih Muslim Vol.2 Pg.317]
Similarly, to swear at an ignorant Muslim without a valid reason of the
Shariah is Haraam e Qatai.
The Beloved Rasool said, To swear at a Muslim is a major sin. This has
been reported by Imam Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi, Nasai, Ibn Majah and
Haakim from Ibn Masud . [Sahih Muslim Vol.1 Pg.58; Jaame Tirmizi
Vol.2 Pg.19; Sunan Ibn Majah Pg.291]
Rasoolullah said, The person who swears at a Muslim is like that
person who will soon be ruined. [Imam Ahmed and Bazzaar have
reported it from Abdullah ibn Amr with a good merit] [At
Targheeb Wat Tarheeb with ref to Bazzaar Vol.3 Pg.467]
Rasoolullah said, One who has hurt a Muslim has hurt me, and one
who has hurt me, has displeased Allah. [Imam Tabrani reported this with
a Hassan merit in Al Awsat from Hazrat Anas ] [Al Mujam Al Awsat,
Hadith 3633, Vol.4 Pg.373]
If this is the ruling concerning the ordinary (general) Muslims, then the
status of the Ulama is even more elevated. It has been mentioned in the
Hadith that Rasoolullah said, None other than a Munafiq (hypocrite)
will look down on Ulama (i.e. belittle them). [Tabrani reported it in
Kabeer from Abu Umama ] [Al Mujam Al Kabeer, Hadith 7819, Vol.8
Pg.238]

In another Hadith Rasoolullah said, None will belittle their status,

except for a Munafiq (hypocrite). [Abush Shaykh has reported it in At
Tawbeekh from Hazrat Jaabir bin Abdullah Ansaari [ ] Kanzul
Ummal with ref to Abush Shaykh, Hadith 43811, Vol.16 Pg.32]
Rasoolullah said, One who does not recognise the right of our Aalim,
he is not from my Ummah. [Ahmed, Haakim and Tabrani reported it in
Kabeer from Ubadah bin Saamit ] [Musnad Imam Ahmed bin Hambal,
Vol.5 Pg.323]
Now, if the Aalim is being slandered because he is an Aalim, then this is
clearly kufr, and if he regards his respect as Fard due to his knowledge,
but due to some worldly enmity he slanders him, or swears at him or
belittles him, then such a person is a Faasiq (transgressor/sinner). If he
has animosity against him without a (valid) reason, then he has a diseased
heart, and an evil inner-self, and there is a risk (fear) of him committing
kufr.
It is mentioned in Khulasa, One who has animosity (enmity) against any
Aalim without a reason, there is fear that he will fall into kufr. [Khulasatul
Fatawa, Vol.4 Pg.388]
It is in Minah Ar Rawdh Al Azhar; It is apparent that he will become a
kaafir. [Minah Ar Rawdh Al Azhar Sharah Al Fiqh Al Akbar, Pg. 173]