Concealing the faults of others

The Ulema have written that if we are informed of the faults of any person, then as long as there isn’t any threat of others being harmed in anyway, concealing the fault will be considered as an act of virtue. Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu narrates,

“No servant conceals the faults of another in this world, except Allah Ta’ala will conceal him on the day of Qiyaamah.” [Saheeh Muslim]

Hadrat Uqbah Bin Aamir Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said,

“Whoever sees the faults of another but conceals it receives the reward of saving the life of a girl that was to be buried alive.” [Abu Dawud]

Concealing the faults of others simply means that it should not be mentioned before others; neither should it be advertised before others. However, the following points should be kept in mind;

1. In order to conceal the faults of another, it is not permissible to lie. Therefore, if someone questions you in regards to the faults of some person then try to avoid the discussion. However, if you compelled to answer then don’t say anything against the reality (i.e. that is false).
2. It is permissible to conceal the faults of a person only if the evil consequence of that fault is limited to the person. However, if there is fear of others being harmed, then informing an innocent victim that could possibly be harmed is permissible. In fact, doing so is a means of attaining reward with the proviso that the intention is to protect others from harm and not to humiliate him. For example, a person deceives others and thereby usurps their wealth, or he takes loans from people without any intention of repayment and as a result many are harmed. In such situations, there is no harm in informing others. Similarly, if a boy has proposed to marry a girl and the girl’s family refer to you, then the correct information should be provided. In all these cases, one’s intention should be purely to protect other’s from harm.
3. Similarly, if a person has perpetrated such a crime that there is a fear of the evil consequence spreading in the community then too, there is no harm in informing the relevant authorities. In fact, informing them is an act for which one will be rewarded with the proviso that it is done with the sole intention of reforming society, and not with the intention of taking revenge.

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