Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (5/208)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

Some people—may Allah protect us—interpret a person’s words or actions in the worst possible light. Satan then goads them into spying on their brother, following him closely, and looking into what he did and what he said. Thus, you find such a person constantly analysing his words and deeds. If only he would construe them in the best, or at least a good, sense; instead, he construes them in an evil and even worse sense—all through Satan’s insinuation, may Allah protect us.

What the believer must do, when he sees in his brother something that may admit of either a good or an evil interpretation, is to construe it in a good sense—unless there are strong indications that preclude such an interpretation. That is a different matter. If such conduct proceeds from a man known for evil and corruption, then there is no harm in interpreting it according to what his words could reasonably mean. But if a man is outwardly upright and no evil is known of him, then, whenever there is something in his speech or conduct that can bear both a good and an evil interpretation, construe it in a good sense, so that you may be at ease.

Perhaps the person who pursues people’s private faults and their errors in speech and action will be afflicted by Allah appointing someone to pursue him in the same way. Whoever seeks out his brother’s private faults, Allah will seek out his faults; and whoever’s faults Allah seeks out, He will expose him, even if he is within the innermost part of his house.

And fasting and charity, ........................................

His statement, “And fasting,” means that he instructs them to fast.

Some scholars said that he instructs them to fast for three days and goes out on the third day.

Others said that he should designate the prayer for rain for a Monday or Thursday, since fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is recommended. Thus, the people go out while fasting, and the fasting person is more likely to have his supplication answered than one who is not fasting, for the fasting person has a supplication that is not rejected. This is what the author—may Allah have mercy on him—said.

وبعض الناس ـ والعياذ بالله ـ يحمل الفعل أو القول على الشر ثم يؤزه الشيطان إلى أن يتجسس على أخيه، ويتابع أخاه، وينظر ماذا فعل؟ وماذا قال؟ فتجده دائماً يحلل أقواله وأفعاله، وليته يحمله على الأحسن، أو على الحسن، ولكن على السيء والأسوء، وذلك بإيحاء الشيطان ـ والعياذ بالله ـ. والذي يجب على المؤمن إذا رأى من أخيه ما يحتمل الخير أو الشر أن يحمله على الخير ما لم توجد قرائن قوية تمنع حمله على الخير، فهذا شيء آخر، فلو صدر مثل هذا من رجل معروف بالسوء ومعروف بالفساد فلا بأس أن تحمله على ما يحتمله كلامه، أما رجل مستور ولم يعلم عنه الشر، فإذا وجد في كلامه، أو في فعاله ما يحتمل الخير والشر فاحمله على الخير حتى تستريح. وربما يصاب هذا الرجل الذي يتبع عورات الناس وأخطاءهم القولية والفعلية بأن يسلط الله عليه من يتابعه هو بنفسه، ومن تتبع عورة أخيه تتبع الله عورته، ومن تتبع الله عورته فضحه ولو في جوف بيته. وَالصِّيَامِ وَالصَّدَقَةِ، ........................................ قوله: «والصيام»، أي: يأمرهم أن يصوموا. قال بعض العلماء: يأمرهم أن يصوموا ثلاثة أيام، ويخرج في اليوم الثالث. وقال بعضهم: يجعل الاستسقاء يوم اثنين أو خميس؛ لأن يومي الاثنين والخميس مما يسن صيامهما، فيكون خروج الناس وهم صائمون، والصائم أقرب إلى إجابة الدعوة من المفطر، فإن للصائم دعوة لا ترد، هكذا قال المؤلف ﵀.