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Elucidating the Behaviors of the Hypocrites in Medina… M. Bagheri Sadr (27
A notable example of such rumors for them in the world and the
was the false accusation concerning one Hereafter, and Allah knows and you do
of the Prophet's wives (Aisha or Maria), not know” (The Quran, 24: 19).
known as the Incident of Calumny The following principles as
(Ḥalabī Shāfiʿī, n.d, vol. 2, p. 294). guidelines for a proper Islamic lifestyle
Almighty God countered this rumor by could be derived from these verses:
the revelation of verses in the Quran and 1. Spreading rumors is prohibited
said, “Indeed those who initiated the since Islam strongly condemns and
calumny are a group from among punishes those who engage in
yourselves. Do not suppose it is a bad rumor-mongering.
thing for you. No, it is for your good. 2. Not only rumor-mongering is
Each man among them bears [the onus forbidden, but also admiring or
for] his share in the sin, and as for him supporting the propagation of
who assumed its major burden from immorality is equally forbidden.
among them, there is a great punishment 3. Rumor-mongering not only incurs
for him” (The Quran, 24: 11). worldly punishment but also incurs
The Holy Quran addressed the eternal punishment.
incident of the calumny, describing the 4. Regarding a calumny, the listeners
behaviors of the hypocrites and simple- must demand witnesses from the
minded people who participated in this reporter, and the witnesses must be at
character assassination of the Prophet, least four; otherwise, the reporter is to
offering guidance and warnings in be regarded as a liar and a fabricator.
response and said, “When you [first] 3. Duality in Appearance and
heard about it, why did not the faithful, Inwardness
men and women, think well of their The most important trait of the
folks, and say, ‘This is an obvious hypocrites is their duplicity. They
calumny’?” (The Quran, 24: 12). The profess the faith outwardly but harbor
next verse emphasized the need for disbelief inwardly. The hypocrites
evidence in such accusations, “Why apparently claim to believe, but inwardly
did they not bring four witnesses to it? they do not believe in what they say or
So, when they could not bring the do. In this regard, Allah said, “They say
witnesses, they are liars in Allah’s with their mouths what is not in their
sight” (The Quran, 24: 13). hearts, and Allah knows well whatever
In continuation of the verse, they conceal” (The Quran, 3: 167).
Almighty God said, “Indeed those who With this account, a lifestyle where
want indecency to spread among the one’s actions and words do not align
faithful—there is a painful punishment with one's true beliefs is described as
