In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy

We Muslims like to judge. We like to judge everyone and everything, in particular those who we see as disobedient to God. I’ve been meaning to post a lengthier discussion on this, but for now, perhaps this reminder from Imam al-Haddad’s Book of Assistance would suffice:

Think well of all Muslims, and beware of thinking ill of any of them. The Prophet, may blessings and peace be upon him, has said: ‘Two traits are unsurpassed by any other good: thinking well of God, and thinking well of His servants. And two traits are unsurpassed by any other evil: thinking ill of God and thinking ill of His servants.‘ To think well of Muslims is to regard nothing they do or say as evil when it can be interpreted otherwise. If you cannot find a good interpretation, in the case of sins, for example, then reproach them for committing them, and believe that their faith will eventually drive them to refrain and repent of them.

…

For example, you may see a Muslim who frequently prays, gives charity, and recites [the Qur'an], and you think that he is only doing this so that people may see him, and that his aim is wealth and social position. This corrupt form of thinking occurs only to those who are inwardly vile, and is an attribute of the hypocrites.

And only God knows best.

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