that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Guard yourselves against people by means of suspicion.”

3 – Al-Nawawī said: What is intended here is a warning against treating the accusation as certain, persisting in it, and allowing it to take firm root in one’s heart. As for a passing thought that does not settle, a person is not held accountable for that; for it is firmly established that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah has pardoned my community for whatever thoughts occur within themselves so long as they neither speak of them nor act upon them.” [Narrated by al-Bukhārī (5269) and Muslim (127)].

4 – Al-Zamakhsharī divided suspicion into four categories—an excellent classification. He said:
• Prohibited: harboring evil thoughts about Allah the Exalted, or about any Muslim whose outward conduct is upright. If a person’s apparent behavior shows trustworthiness, to presume corruption or treachery in him is forbidden, unlike one who is openly engaged in dubious matters.
• Obligatory: entertaining a good opinion of Allah the Exalted.
• Recommended: thinking well of Muslims whose outward behavior is righteous.
• Permissible: suspecting someone whose signs of immorality are evident and who frequents blameworthy places.

5 – Suspicion is called the most mendacious form of speech because lying means contradicting reality without relying on any indication.