How Should a Person React to Slander?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Is it considered slander if someone indirectly accuses another person of committing sins without proof and then spreads these suspicions to others? How serious is this accusation, and how should the accused respond and defend themselves?

Answer

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Slander is to mention something false about someone and is a major sin. It was haram and sinful of him to accuse and slander like this just based on signs. You can tell the accuser that it was wrong of him to do this and spread lies like this. He should be reminded to repent and tell others it was a slander. Also, if you find someone telling you about the spread lie, explain to them that it was a slander. Just move on and live your life as normal.

Slander

Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Do you know what backbiting is?” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “To mention your brother in a way that he dislikes.” It was said, “What if what I said about my brother is true?” He said, “If he is as you’ve said, then you have backbitten him. If it is not true what you said, you have slandered him.” [Muslim]

Whoever Controls His Anger is Filled with Faith

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever suppresses his rage although he is capable of unleashing it, then Allah will fill him with assurance and faith.” The Prophet recited, “They are those who suppress their rage and forgive people, for Allah loves those who do good.” [Quran, 3:134] [Suyuti, Jami al-Sagir; Tabari, Tafsir al-Tabari]

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.

 Related

• slander Archives – SeekersGuidance
•  The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained – YouTube
•  Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms, and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart: Hamza Yusuf: 9780985565909: Amazon.com: Books (Book)
• Dhahabi’s The Major Sins Explained: Avoiding the Pitfalls to Attain Salvation
• The Tongue and the Majority of Man’s Sins
• Prayer of Repentance: Salat al-Tawba – SeekersGuidance
• A Reader on Tawba (Repentance) – SeekersGuidance

I pray this helps with your question.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani 

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.