In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
Al-ʿAllāmah Sālih al-Fawzān (may Allāh preserve him) said: Allāh, the Most High, says:
لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أَتَوْا وَيُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يُحْمَدُوا بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُمْ بِمَفَازَةٍ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
“Never think that those who rejoice in what they have done and love to be praised for what they have not done—never think that they are safe from the punishment. And for them is a painful punishment.” (Āl ʿImrān 3:188)
This is a description of the Jews, who love to be praised for what they have not done. The Prophet, (sallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said:
«الْمُتَشَبِّعُ بِمَا لَمْ يُعْطَ كَلَابِسِ ثَوْبَيْ زُورٍ»
“The one who pretends to possess what he has not been given is like one who wears two garments of falsehood.” (Reported by al-Bukhārī, no. 5219, and Muslim, no. 2130, from the hadīth of Asmāʾ bint Abī Bakr, radiyallāhu ʿanhumā)
This proves that the principle and origin of a Muslim is that he must not claims something that is not rightfully his, whether that involves the rights of other people, a particular attribute, or a rank or station that he has not attained. This is because such behaviour is fabrication, lying and deception.
Regarding his statement of the Prophet (sallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam), “When he argues, he is rude and abusive”, then this is one of the characteristics of the hypocrites; and when one of them disputes, he lies. As for the Muslim, when he disputes, he speaks truthfully, whether the truth is in his favour or against him. Even when a Muslim is subjected to injustice, this must not cause him to abandon his adherence to the rulings of his Religion. He must neither fabricate nor lie in order to make the case turn out in his favour.
As for the hypocrite, he employs every means, even those that are unlawful, in order to achieve his own interests.
The Prophet (sallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said:
«آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلَاثٌ: إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ، وَإِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَانَ»
“The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks his promise; and when he is entrusted with something, he betrays that trust.”
And in another wording, the Prophet (sallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said:
«وَإِذَا خَاصَمَ فَجَرَ، وَإِنْ صَامَ وَصَلَّى وَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ مُسْلِمٌ»
“And when he disputes, he behaves wickedly, even if he fasts, prays and claims to be a Muslim.”
(Reported by al-Bukhārī, no. 33, and Muslim, no. 59, from the hadīth of Abū Hurayrah, radiyallāhu ʿanhu. The additional wording is reported by Muslim)
Source: Sharh Kitāb al-Kabā’ir (p. 470).
Abu Khadeejah.
