Chapter: The Prohibition of Gloating over a Muslim

Allah the Exalted says, “The believers are but brothers.” He also says, “Indeed, those who love to see indecency spread among the believers will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter.”

1577 – Wāthila ibn al-Asqaʿ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do not display gloating toward your brother, lest Allah show him mercy and afflict you.” Related by al-Tirmidhī, who declared it a sound (ḥasan) hadith.

This topic is further supported by the previously cited hadith of Abū Hurayrah in the Chapter on Spying: “Every Muslim’s life, property, and honor are inviolable for another Muslim… .”

[Commentary]

The author (may Allah have mercy on him) places here two consecutive chapters in his book Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn: the first deals with gloating, the second with impugning lineage.

Gloating (shamātah) means reproaching someone for a sin, an action, a calamity that has befallen him, or the like—publicizing it, spreading it, and making it known. Such behavior is forbidden because it contradicts the divine statement, “The believers are but brothers,” for a brother does not wish to