A person who learns of someone’s faults and does not have mercy on them brings upon himself great danger and disaster. So we should always have mercy with people’s faults.
Learning people’s secrets and their weakness is a form of power over them. We shouldn’t feel we have the authority to judge someone based on their secrets as only Allah has the authority to judge. Also, we should not reveal people’s faults as Allah is the one who conceals them.
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ confessing that he committed adultery. Another companion saw him and ordered him to confess. The Prophet ﷺ said, “It would have been better for you if you had covered him with your robe.”
It is a major sin to reveal people’s faults or use their faults against them.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “A believer who conceals the fault of others in this world, Allah ﷻ will conceal his faults on the day of judgement.”
So if you find yourself in a situation where you learn of someone’s secret: have mercy on them. Otherwise, you will be journeying backwards, not forward, to Allah ﷻ . It is the nature and way of the believer to veil our fellow brother and conceal their faults. Rather than exposing them or gloating over them.
So step 22 to Allah ﷻ is to have mercy on others as you would like Allah ﷻ to have mercy on you. To conceal others’ faults as you would like Allah ﷻ to conceal your faults on the Day of Judgement.
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Article inspired by Shaykh Zaqir’s classes
