Islamic Morals
Man's Covenant With Allah
Here are some verses about man's trust with God:
And those who break the covenant of Allah after its confirmation and cut as under that which Allah has ordered to be joined and make mischief in the land; as for those, upon them shall be curse and they shall have the evil issue of the abode. And fulfil the covenant Allah when you have made a covenant, and do not break the oaths after making them fast, and you have indeed made Allah a surety for you; surely Allah knows what you do. Commentators have given several meanings of the covenant of Allah but what is obvious is that it means those promises which men give to god and obviously the words given to the Holy messengers and the Imams are also the words given to God, and it includes the promises related with Faith, jihad etc.
And it should be stated that the religious commands issued through the Holy Prophet of Islam do contain a kind of the Divine orders and similarly rational obligations which are the outcome of the God-given faculty of thinking, intelligence, wisdom and too are linked with bye-covenant. This is to say religious obligations and rational demands are covered by Ahdullah or the promise given to God.
He it is Who makes you travel by land and sea; until when you are in the ships, and they sail on with them in a pleasant breeze, and they rejoice, a violent wind overtakes them and the billows surge in on them from all sides, and they become certain that they are encompassed about, they pray to Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience: If Thou dost deliver us from this, we will most certainly be of the grateful ones. But when He delivers them, lo! they are unjustly rebellious in the earth.
Yes, many people make covenant with Allah during their bad days but when they are released from that trouble, they forget Allah. So we should pray to Allah so that He may not leave us to ourselves even for a moment.
Promise Keeping between Man and Man
The Holy Quran says in this connection: O you who believe! Fulfil the obligations. Raagib says: Obligation is of three sorts: sometimes it is between man and God, sometimes man's promise with himself and sometimes between man and the entire humanity.
Since Al has come ahead of the word Uqood and as according to grammar it denotes a common category and from one angle the sentence is fully unconditional it can be derived that this Holy verse includes all sorts of promises and covenants which must be fulfilled those between men and man's promise to God and so also all the political, trade, family etc treaties or understandings.
And the Quran in another ayat says: and fulfil the promise; surely every promise shall be questioned about Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) writes in his letter to Malik Ashtar: From among the divine commandments, there is no subject like the keeping of promise, which is most unanimously agreed, despite other disagreements. Therefore even the idol worshippers of the days of ignorance were respecting the oath among them since they had understood the harms of oath breaking.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: One who does not keep his promise has no religion. Similarly there is another narration from Imam Ali (a.s.): Almighty Allah does not accept anything from His slaves except a good deed and nothing except the fulfilment of oath is acceptable in His court.
And there is another narration from Salman Farsi that also has the same meaning: The destruction of this community will be caused by their breach of promises. The Holy constitution of Islam had given importance to oath keeping to such an extent that even if a common soldier gives protection to a man or group of the enemy it is incumbent upon all Muslims to keep that promise.
A group of Islamic scholars is of the opinion that one of the matters which attracted the idol worshippers and polytheist to Islam in its earlier period was the same fulfilling of covenants and keeping oaths. In this connection, Hisham bin Saalim quotes Imam Sadiq (a.s.): The promise of a Muslim to another Muslim is a vow for which there is no expiation it means if he breaks it, it cannot be compensated and, really, it is considered as a promise given to God. So the Holy Quran says: O group of the faithful! Why do you not do as you say? Be afraid of this deed of not doing what is said as it will cause a great Divine anger.
In traditions, keeping of oaths and promise is considered as one of the signs of faith, like faith in God and the Hereafter. Hence the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) says: Whoever has faith in Allah and the Day of Judgement must keep the promise whenever he makes it.
Hypocrisy and Breach of a Vow
Hypocrisy and double face is one of the worst qualities of man and the cause of breaching vows and ignoring promise. The Holy Prophet has said in this connection: There are three qualities and conditions which make a man hypocrite even if he fasts and prays and is a Muslim in his opinions:
1 Shows dishonesty when trusted, 2 Tells a lie while speaking and 3 Breaks a promise.
Again Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) says: Even if one undertakes something through a sign, he should fulfil it. Are all the Promises Honourable?
If Islam has made a series of bonds and agreements as honourable, it has also ordered the breaking of some, for example relating to the enemy, when is felt that he is on the verge of dishonesty and breaching trust of agreement. In that case friendship must not be continued. Quranic proof of this is How can there be an agreement for the idolaters with Allah and with His Apostle when they continue to break trusts? At another place it is mentioned: And if they break their oaths after their agreement and openly revile your religion, then fight the leaders of unbelief surely oaths are nothing so that they may desist.
On this ground, fulfilling an oath has been considered as one of the signs of the faithful and the wise and as one of the salient human virtue and Islam has consistently emphasised it and has ordered to ignore a promise given to the enemies of Allah even if they happen to be ones close relatives. Anyway, much more has been said in the matter of promise and covenant and its results and fruits. But we think this much is enough here.
Lesson: 34 : Honesty
Honesty is one of the prominent qualities of man and acquiring it is the virtue, which attracted common confidence and made deviated people and non-Muslims fall upon the shining lamp of Islam. It created a peaceful society and made people proceed on the path to progress. This aim cannot be attained but through action as commanded by Islam: Imam (a.s.) says: Call people through your deeds not by mere oral invitation. Some verses Regarding Honesty: Surely Allah commands you to make over trusts to their owners.
O you who believe! Be not unfaithful to Allah and the Apostle, nor be unfaithful to your trusts while you know. It is understood from this verse that: Man, in addition to being dishonest to himself and to others, sometimes also does so with regard to God and His Apostle. This last kind of the dirty deed related to dishonesty toward God and His Prophet has been the target of severest condemnation. Here it is better to look at the circumstances leading to the revelation of this verse:
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says: When the Apostle of Allah ordered the siege of the Jews belonging to Banu Quraysh, the order was carried and the group was under siege for twenty one nights. Finally they demanded that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) may send Abu Lubabah to them. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) conceded that request and sent Abu Lubabah to them. Banu Quraysh, on the issue whether or not it was advisable to accept the mediation of Saad bin Maaz consulted Abu Lubabah. Abu Lubabah pointed to his throat that meant that if they accepted it they might be killed.
Jibraeel (a.s.) informed the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) of this. Abu Lubabah says, he had not taken a few steps when he realised his dishonest and so he made the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) aware of the same. Abu Lubabah became very much ashamed and repentant and so he fastened himself with rope to one of the pillars of the mosque of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and said:
By God! I will never take any food nor drink any water till death unless Allah accepts my repentance and I desist from this misdeed. For seven days and nights he remained hungry and thirsty, then fell unconscious on the ground… At last Allah accepted his repentance and the news reached himself from the pillar unless the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) himself unfastens the rope and finally the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) did so…
After this event Abu Lubabah declare that, in order to complete his repentance, he would give up the house wherein he had committed the sin. But the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) prevented him from doing so and said: Give one third of your wealth in the path of Allah. That is enough. And those who are keepers of their trusts and their covenant As you have seen, honesty and keeping of trust is one of the Divine orders and is considered as one of the virtues of the faithful.
Some Traditions Relating to Trust
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: One who is not honest trustworthy has no religion faith. Similarly The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: One who is dishonest in this world and does not return the trust to its owner and dies in this state has left the world being out of my ummah nation and is not considered as my follower and he will meet Allah making HIM angry and furious, that is, he will meet with Divine chastisement.
Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) said: Keep distance from a dishonest person as, doubtlessly, dishonesty is one of the worst sins and a dishonest person will always remain in the fire of hell. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has said: For recognising people, do not see only how much prayers do they perform or how much do they fast or how many times he has made hajj pilgrimage and how much donations he has made. Nor pay attention to his name and fame regarding his night worship. But keep in mind his truthfulness and honesty.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: The weight of man's goodness is not in his bowings and prostrations during his lengthy worship because, these acts have become his habit in such a way that it they leave them they become restless, but the balance and measure is their truthfulness and honesty or trustworthiness.
Yes, so many are the people whose prayers and worships are no more than habitual routine and they think that through such spiritless rituals performed without realising the reality behind Divine commandments they will enter paradise. Those who imagine like this should know that such worship acting according to it is like soul in a body. If the soul is dead within a body, it is more than a corpse. We read in the Holy Quran: Surely We offered the trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to be unfaithful to it and feared from it, and man has turned unfaithful to it; surely he is unjust, ignorant. Many traditions are found explaining the above verse which provide full evidence about the importance of trustworthiness as explained by the sinless Imams (a.s.).
In public talks when honesty is discussed mostly they imagine that it is related to merely wealth but it should be borne in mind that honesty, in the philosophy of the Holy Quran, has a very vast field which encircles all the social as well as moral aspects. For example, one of the trusts is the same Imamat and guidance which, in reality, is one of the most principled and the most life giving causes leading to wisdom and progress relating both to matter and spirit.
Imam and guidance is the principle, for bringing which up, Muslims, especially the Shias have sacrificed much blood. With regard to the Quranic verse said: dishonesty toward Allah and His apostle is to disobey their orders and in amaanat dishonesty in trust is dishonesty regarding what has been obligatory by God. And it is also there in a Hadith that: Talks is a special gathering is a trust.
It is also mentioned in yet another Hadith that: I, while saying something, a man looks around him so that others may not hear him his talk is also considered a trust.
On this basis, the Islamic state and its laws and all the sources of the Islamic sate and summarily, all the bounties of Almighty Allah like: mother, children… are trusts from God. Though some of the Divine ordinances are described as His law and some of the trusts of the Prophet as his Sunnah and the trusts of the faithful are called their secrets… At the end of this discussion let us pray to Allah so that He may make us Truthful and Trustworthy.
Lesson: 35 : Modesty and Chastity
The meaning of IFFAT (modesty and chastity), according to dictionary is: Iffat is one of the human virtues that, bridles passion, the rebellious power.
And in another lexicon the meaning of IFFAT is: Modesty and chastity prevents or hold back from bad and undesirable deeds. IFFAT and HAYAA chastity and modesty controls all the movements and pauses and talks and writings of man so that they may not do whatever they desire and so that they may not speak or write down whatever their heart wants.
The lesson of chastity and piety may be taken by us from the Holy Quran, that is the guide and a pattern for human beings. This is the Book that, from beginning to end, speaks with soberness and dignity. It must be said that one of its miracles is also that one cannot find in it any phrases which is repulsive, boring or far from modesty and so also there is nothing in it which can be related to a common, ignorant and untrained person. Chastity and Modesty as Described by the Imams (a.s.)
It is reported from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) that: Verily Allah likes a modest and chaste person and hates a foul tongued and oft begging person.
Also the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has said: Three groups will enter paradise ahead of all, viz., first: A martyr as he the light house of history and provides light to society. Second: an obedient servant who listens to his master's admonitions and orders and obeys him. Third: A man who has modest and chastity and who is also regular worshipper.
It is reported from Imam Ali (a.s.): One who wears the dress of modesty; people do not see his weaknesses.
Similarly Ali (a.s.) is reported to have said elsewhere: Modesty and chastity is the highest worship.
It is also the word of Ali (a.s.) that: One who talk too much, his mistakes increase and consequently the one whose mistakes increase his modesty decreases and the one who lacks modesty his piety become low and whose piety is low his soul dies and the one whose soul has died will enter Hell.
The fifth leader of the Shias, Imam Baqir (a.s.) says: No God worship is higher than the chastity of stomach and genitals.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: Modesty and faith are connected with one another just like two things fastened by a rope and hence their existence depends on one another. So if one of them is gone the another also is lost.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says: One who has no chastity has no faith.
At another place Imam Sadiq (a.s.) has said: When you see that someone does not ashamed while speaking wrong and hearing undesirable things then know that he is either an unlawful offspring or the devil is mixed with his embryo.
We bring the Hadith from Imam Kazim (a.s.): God has forbidden paradise for the one who does not hesitate to talk shamelessly or to behave immodestly.
What we understand from the collection of above traditions is that modesty and chastity is an attribute that stops man from doing bad and inhuman activities and also prevents him from speaking whatever comes to his mind. It is seen in society that once in a while man is so much ashamed that he does not learn even religious problems. It is also considered as Hayaa. For example, somebody says so and so is modest, whereas Islam fights against such circumstances.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has said: Modesty is of two kinds, modesty of wisdom the fruit of which is knowledge and the modesty of folly the fruit of which is ignorance And at another place the Prophet of Islam has said: May Allah be kind to him who really maintains modesty toward Him that is he is modest on these four occasions:
Protects his head and whatever is in it like the eye, the ear, the tongue and the mind from sinning.
Belly and whatever is in it should be lawful or permissible,
Remembers his grave and its covering,
Always remembers the Day of Judgement and Resurrection.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says: One who is hiding his face too much and always feels ashamed will remain ignorant and unwise. This is because an excessively modest man does not ask for solution even essential problems and consequently remains ignorant. Likewise, Misabaahus shariah quotes Imam Sadiq (a.s.): Haya is of five kinds: 1 - Keeping away from sin, 2 - Keeping distance from mistakes and faults, 3 - being ashamed of greatness, 4- Modesty in the matter of friendship and 5- Being ashamed of mastership. Those who have one of these attributes also have some stages.
Some Important points First point
Modesty is good for everyone but it is nicer and more befitting for women because we see that Imam Sadiq (a.s.) has divided modesty into ten wherein nine are for women and one for men. Therefore ladies should give more importance to modesty and chastity and take more care because, this deed, is the basis of happiness in life. Many times it so happens that a little carelessness in modesty destroys the warm atmosphere and leaves a permanent dot on ones dress.
Second point
Those who tear off the curtain or veil of modesty and behave openly against modesty and spread sins in society have, from the viewpoint of Islam, no honour or respect at all and hence Islam, allows backbiting of such persons. So the Prophet of Islam has said: One who tears of the veil of modesty can be backbited.
Third point
The sympathisers and the office bearers of the Islamic state must remain very alert and they must see that important key posts and positions are given only to the pious and that this revolution is administered by those who, whenever any undesirable thought comes to their mind at once remember the pure blood profusely shed by the martyrs of Islam and immediately stop from doing any unwise deed and when ever they see the sacrifice of the deprived in the society feel ashamed as to why they do not pay their duties in a nice ways and…
Perfection in the light of Morals
Part two : Preface
Imam Sadiq (a.s.): It is your duty to adorn yourselves with the favours of morality as the Glorious God likes it and to keep away from immorality as the Almighty Allah is against it.
Man is a being that has the best ability to reach the peak of perfection. It is an entity that has begun its upward journey from nothing or point of zero or nothingness and which moves ahead toward the point of endlessness and never will its journey toward perfection stop should he keep moving on its route.
Islam is the highest school of training which nourishes noble virtues and precious qualities in man and similarly, the spirit of faith strengthens the sense of awareness and accountability in his character. For this reason, at no point it is possible that man can, during his life times, afford to neglect this great training even for a moment. There are some people who did not appreciate that high status humanity and considered the perfection of man as limited. But we believe that all the existence of the world is travelling toward an endless perfection.
As man is a social being, his perfection also takes shape in the midst of the society along with the group of people. And it is essential for the perfection of man this society should have regular law and order rules so that people may be able to conduct their affairs in the light of and with respect for those rules and regulations and prevent bad and undesirable incidents and, similarly, fix the boundaries of responsibility. Yes, if the human society is reformed the members of that society can attain their final goal. And if the society gets corrupted, obviously, people will not reach perfection. And it must be understood that one does not reach perfection unless and until he proceeds on the path of Divine Guidance brought by the Prophets of Allah.
Hence it is must to follow the moral orders and commandments of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and his pure and guiltless progeny. Therefore, in this part also we describe some of the virtue which enable man to reach perfection from the view point of the Holy Quran and Hadith so that by the blessings of the Quran and the words of the great Prophet and his pious progeny we may gain admonition for ourselves and also for you dear readers. After a review and analysis and examination we will conclude that only such persons can in the light of the divine laws, reach human perfection and attain their goal.
It is hoped that these moral lessons will prove effect for our character building and will help us in our journeys toward perfection and toward God.
Lesson: 36 : Self respect
Ghairat or self-respect is a virtue for which the man-making religion of Islam has much emphasised and the guiltless Imams have always talked about it. Religiosity of every Muslim also demands that, besides ones relatives like wife, children… Ghairat or support and backing based on self-respect must be extended to the Islamic state and its laws especially regarding or with respect to the pitiable condition of world Muslims as almost everywhere complaints against the oppressions of the imperialism are rising calling for help form the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thy have emphasised it as our Islamic duty and have never neglected this matter.
Yes, it is now our duty to Islam and defend the Islamic revolution with the power of our wealth and lives and to export it the revolution to all the points of the world where they feel thirst for it, that is for the truth and justice. It is incumbent upon us all to defend this Islamic revolution with total courage and self-respect till death. We should never be like those who have made Islam a means of satisfying their greed and passion, Rather we should fight with such persons even if they are our close relatives and they should be excommunicated because the Holy Quran commands: O you who believe! Do not take your fathers and your brothers for guardians if they love unbelief more than belief; and whoever of you takes them for a guardian, these it is that are the unjust. Say: If your fathers and your sons and your brethren and your mates and your kinsfolk and property which you have acquired, and the slackness of trade which you fear and dwellings which you like, are dearer to you than Allah and His Apostle and striving in His way, then wait till Allah brings about His command: and Allah does not guide the transgressing people.
Anyway, everything should be sacrificed for Islam and Quran. But it is very sorrowful that there are some who, despite claiming to be Muslims, have become so much negligent that they conspire even with the enemies. This group of Muslims should imitate that courageous and heroic woman from Isfahan who says:
I like to take up a gun in my hand to fire the first shot on the heart of my son who has turned a hypocrite and has be come disloyal to the beloved Imam and to the dishonest to the martyr-nourishing nation of Iran.
Yes, truly, a Muslim must be like this and not like the one who justifies the dishonest behaviour of his son and defends him because what Islam tells us is that: In case your children turn disloyal and dishonest they must no more be considered as members of the family. Hence Allah asserts regarding the son of Apostle Nuh (a.s.): Surely he is not of your family.
Words of Religious Leaders about Ghairat
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: Verily Almighty Allah is zealous and loves every zealous person and it is for His zeal that He has prohibited shamelessness open or hidden.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) also has said: Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) was zealous and I am more zealous than him. If a believer has no zeal or self-respect Allah ruins his position, rubs his nose on earth makes him defamed. Addressing the Iraqi people Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) says: O People of Iraq! Do you not feel ashamed when your women mix up with male mobs in the streets and markets?
Some Rules for preventing Corruption
In order to prevent shamelessness and turmoil in society Islam has framed laws and rules for the society. Some of them are: Ali (a.s.) has said: Do not mount women on saddled animals as it provides preliminaries of sin. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has said: Women should not walk in the middle of the roads. Rather they should walk by its sides Imam Sadiq (a.s.) has said: One of the promises obtained by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) from women was that: they would not ravel or settle with men in isolation.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has said: One who has faith in Allah and the Hereafter should not sleep in a place where he can hear the breathing of a female stranger. Abu Baseer says: I asked Imam Sadiq (a.s.): How if a woman walks on the road and man looks at her from behind? The Hazrat replied: Do you like that someone looks at your wife in this way? I said: No. Then desire for others what you desire for yourself.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) has said: If a man's eye gets injured by an arrow while peeping into the house of others there is no compensation.
Yes, God and His Apostle love self-respecting and zealous person s. Many narrations have been recorded in this matter from the innocent Imams (a.s.). They have given much importance to the problem of Ghairat. Of course, here it must be remembered that Islam has strictly prohibited unnecessary harshness and misplaced suspicion and has taken into consideration only those things that have been prohibited by Islam. It is obvious that suspicion and undue harshness has torn apart sweet relations in many families. That is why Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) says to his son Imam Hasan (a.s.):
Beware of misplaced zeal and undue strictness as this attitude drags pious women from the right path to wrong lanes. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) has said: Paradise has been denied prohibited to a shameless man who has no self-respect. Truly, this deserves deep thought, as family affairs are very fine and delicate. So undue harshness may perhaps result in corruption and destruction.
Is Ghairat a Must for Women Also?
It is obvious that only Islam has given so much importance to the issue of Ghairat zeal, self-respect, jealousy and only within the frame of the Shariah, can Islam moot it. It is also clear that Muslim women also have some duties and responsibilities in the frame of Islamic laws that much be adhered to. For example, if a man behaves in an un-Islamic manner his wife should, in response to her Islamic Ghairat prevent him.
But it is seen that many women show opposition to and fight against their husbands if they take second or … wide. Now, if the husband has taken into account and managed to abide by the rules framed by Islam in this connection, and goes for second marriage, and if the wife opposes him then, she has not only not acted according to Ghairat but has shown her jealousy or envy. This is the interpretation of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) who says: Ghairat of woman is Hasad.
Similarly he has said at another place: Verily, Allah has ordained compulsory Jihad for men and also a jihad for women. The jihad of men is to sacrifice his wealth and life in the path of God until finally they attain martyrdom and the jihad of women is to show patience and tolerance in course of life to tolerate trouble misbehaviour of their husbands who act with Ghairat!
Lesson: 37 : Favourable Opinion
For dear readers, we divide the subject of favourable opinion in some kinds:
1 - Having good opinion about god of the universe. 2 - Favourable opinion in respect of the Islamic ruler. 3 - Having good opinion about Muslims.
As regards the first it can be said, with pressure, that if man does not have a good opinion about the Lord of the Universe, he looks with an angry eye toward everything in this world and always remains in a state of sorrow and anxiety and fear. Consequently corruption of morale envelopes his entire life and for getting out of this condition of internal grief and continuous burning, he, like polytheists, turns into a believer in a god of good and a god of bad or evil.
It is obvious that a Monotheist believes in one God and has faith that the Lord of the universe is all-knowing and Just and also that the working of the universe is aimful not aimless always experiences peace of mind and remains pleased with whatever Almighty Allah has destined for him, because, he knows that He is Merciful and that He wishes good of the faithful and that He puts them to trials to make them wise and perfect. Therefore, there are many narrations from the Holy Imams (a.s.) wherein it is said that: We want nothing except Your pleasure. Masoom (a.s.) is reported to have said: Having good opinion about the only Lord creator is that you should not have any hope except from Him and must not be afraid of anything but your sins.
And regarding the second issue: A nation which elects a leader having Islamic virtues and conditions must always be obedient to him and also his well-wisher because only such nation can achieve prosperity and happiness. The Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.s.) says in this regard: I stand surely for entrance to Paradise for the one who assures me five things! It was asked what those things were and he replied:
1 - Having good opinion about the Almighty Allah, 2 - Well-wishing for the Apostle of Allah, 3 - Favourable opinion about the Book of Allah, 4 - Having good opinion about the Religion of Allah and 5 - Wishing well for the Islamic society.
Similarly it is recorded from Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s.): The heart of a faithful always has three things: 1 - Sincerity in deed, 2 - Well-wishing for Muslim leaders and 3 - Remaining attached with the Muslim society.
The third problem - Misgiving about men
If the Islamic society, rather a human society adopts the Islamic laws and programmes, one of which is having good opinion, many disputes, rumours, hasty and undue decisions, doubtful news, falsities … all of which rise from misgivings may be wiped out. Otherwise, the society will continue to suffer chaos and no one will be safe from others misgiving and all will be restless. After concluding this them, we now invite your attention toward the verses and narrations about misgiving:
1 - O you who believe! Avoid most of the suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sun, and do not spy… 2 - And follow not that of which you have not the knowledge; surely the hearing and the sight and the heart, all of these, shall be questioned about that. 3 - And most of them do not follow anything but conjecture; surely conjecture will not avail author against the truth…
Traditions regarding Conjecture
Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) said: Have a good opinion about whatever is done by your brother-in-Faith and do not entertain misgiving in his word until you get a good place and carrier for him.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: Try to find a good excuse and cause for any of your brothers' deeds. If you cannot find try again. Similarly The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: Keep away from conjecture as conjecture is the worst lie Somebody asked Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.); What is the distance between truth and falsehood. He replied placing his four hand fingers between his eye and ear: Whatever your eye saw is true and most of what you ear heard is untrue.
Wash whatever you hear like water and do not speak what you have not seen, that is, be like a mirror.
Evil Consequences of Conjecture
Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) said: O People! The one who sees tranquillity, steadfastness in religion and correct behaviour in his brother-in-Faith must not listen to talks spoken against him. Beware sometimes firing misses its target conjecture is not reality. A false word will eventually be rejected even if repeated increasingly because God is All-hearing and All-knowing. Also know that the distance between true and false is not more than four fingers. Then he placed his four fingers between his eye and ear and said: It is false when you say I heard and it is true when you say I saw.
In conclusion it can be said that consequences of conjecture means:
1 - Conjecture is a calamity that endangers the honour of the honourable and the servants of the society and the religion. 2 - Misgiving makes the market of rumourmongers flourish. 3 - Conjecture causes destruction of friendly and warn relations within family and market and office and workshop and everywhere and at all times. 4 - Suspicion encroaches upon the rights of the members of a society. 5 - Unfavourable guessing results in spying upon people's lives.