🧐 Hunting for Faults in Others

We have to be careful when we approach slogans of attacking and blaming others, especially our leaders. 

Everyone, in their own capacity, is a leader in their own right, as the Prophet ﷺ said, “every single one of you are shepherds, and everyone of you is responsible and will be questioned for your flock. 

- An appointed leader over the people is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock;

- a man is a shepherd in charge of the inhabitants of his household and he is responsible for his flock;

- a woman is a shepherdess in charge of her husband's house and children and she is responsible for them; and

- a slave is a shepherd in charge of his master's property and he is responsible for it” (Al-Bukhari)

Observe this hadith. EVERY SINGLE PERSON is a leader who shoulders some degree of responsibility: from a leader, a father, a mother, right down to the lowest member in society who, on the surface, has virtually "No responsibilities"… a slave.

 As human beings, we tend to feel a sinister, wicked sense of satisfaction and enjoyment whenever others faults are exposed. A feel-good element that subconsciously gives a sense of self-righteousness. Seductive whispers of shaytan.

If we aren’t careful, then those words we speak of others will only be a source of regret, as we meet Allah on the Day of Judgment and watch in horror as our good deeds are snatched away into the accounts of those whom we backbite and slander behind their backs. 

We have much to work on, so Focus on ourselves. The Prophet ﷺ said,

طُوبى لمنْ شَغَلَهُ عَيبُه عن عُيُوبِ النّاسِ

"Glad tidings to the one who busies himself with (rectifying) his own faults,

Instead of (busying himself) with the faults of others”

(Ahmad, At-Tabarani, Al-Bazzar)

The truth is, if we spent our energy focusing on those, we don’t really have much time to scrutinize others. Because sometimes, talking trash about others is just a red herring to distract us from the accountability of our own shortcomings and taking responsibility of rectifying ourselves. 

And that, is why ibn Sirin used to say that those who had the most time to talk about others, are the people who had the most sins.

Allah Knows best.