‘The Sufi’s book is not of ink and letters; it is nothing but a heart white as snow’ (Mevlana Rumi, Mathnawi II.159)
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Peace, one and all…
‘O you who believe! avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful’ (49:12)
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
This entry was posted on
January 10, 2008 at 1:30 pm and is filed under al-Quran al-Karim.
January 10, 2008 at 2:18 pm
A little suspicion is healthy when complete trust
has not been built .
Akash
January 10, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Peace Akash,
Very true. Perhaps this is why this passage refers to some suspicion – and not to suspicion per se?
Abdur Rahman
January 10, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Well, suspicion is healthy if you’ve been given a reason to have some doubt about a person or issue. However, we shouldn’t be suspicious of fellow brothers and sisters in Islam without reason.
The problem in many masajid is we are suspicious of New muslims that come into the community or a Muslim who comes to the community that we’ve never seen before. It’s almost as if they have to pass a background check and pass a urine test before we can be comfortable with them.
There is actually a mosque in my city that request FBI clearances of any new people coming into the masjid, even just to pray. Shameful, isn’t it?
January 10, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Salaams Dawud,
Perhaps the English word ’suspicion’ is unhelpfully imprecise here? Perhaps Akash is referring more to caution? Caution is certainly important. Negative suspicion, in the sense you refer to, is both unhelpful and damaging. I’ve never been asked for clearance before praying! Subhan Allah!
Allah help us all.
Abdur Rahman
March 6, 2009 at 3:42 am
Assalamu Alaikum.
I wrote a post talking about suspicion and doubt. I haven’t considered the fact that some suspicion is good… Jazakallah khair Akash and Dawud.
March 6, 2009 at 4:26 am
Wa alaikum salam alsaifa,
Welcome to my online home. Allah bless you always. Thank you for your comments. I look forward to hearing others.
March 8, 2009 at 10:27 am
There is an expression used by psychotherapists ” naive disclosure “. Which means not just heedlessly revealing intimate details to those we do not know. Perhaps it is this which is to be avoided. Harbouring suspicion as a default mechanism doeas not seem to me to be commendable . Although of course some people and some peoples have learned to be cautious.
March 8, 2009 at 1:42 pm
al-salamu alaikum Hamid,
Welcome to my online home. May Allah bless you always. I think you may well be right. As I said above, the English word ’suspicion’ is perhaps too imprecise here. Caution is one thing (and is healthy), suspicion is quite another.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
March 8, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah
Abdur Rahman.
March 9, 2009 at 10:59 am
Wa alaikum salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh Hamid