On Abandoning a Fellow Muslim

One of the most underestimated matters in our time is abandoning a fellow Muslim—something that the early generations regarded as extremely serious. Asma bint Yazid (may God be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever defends the honor of his brother against backbiting, it is a right upon God to free him from the Fire.” (Reported by Ahmad and al-Tabarani; authenticated by al-Albani)

Al-Qasim ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Shami said: “I heard Ibn Umm Abd say: Whoever hears a believer being backbitten and defends him, God will reward him with good in this world and the Hereafter. Whoever hears a believer being backbitten and does not defend him, God will repay him with evil in this world and the Hereafter. No one has ever consumed a worse morsel than backbiting a believer: if he speaks the truth about him, it is backbiting; if he says what is not true, it is slander.” (Al-Adab al-Mufrad by al-Bukhari)

How much we are in need of gentleness and humility toward fellow believers. Abdullah ibn Umar (may God be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim: he does not wrong him nor abandon him. Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, God will fulfill his needs. Whoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship, God will relieve him of a hardship from the hardships of the Day of Judgment. And whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, God will conceal his faults on the Day of Judgment.” (Al-Bukhari)

Itban ibn Malik reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Where is Malik ibn al-Dukhshum?” A man said: “He is a hypocrite who does not love God or His Messenger.” The Prophet replied: “Do not say that. Do you not see that he has said: ‘There is no god but God,’ seeking thereby the Face of God? Indeed, God has forbidden the Fire for whoever says: ‘There is no god but God,’ sincerely seeking Him.” (Al-Bukhari)

During the expedition of Tabuk, the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked about Kaab ibn Malik, saying: “What happened to Kaab ibn Malik?” A man from Banu Salamah said: “O Messenger of God, his fine clothes and self-admiration have held him back.” Muadh ibn Jabal said: “What a terrible thing you have said. By God, O Messenger of God, we know nothing about him except good.” The Prophet remained silent. (Al-Bukhari)

Aisha (may God be pleased with her) said: I said to the Prophet: “It is enough for you about Safiyyah that she is such and such”—meaning short. The Prophet said: “You have said a word that, if it were mixed with the water of the sea, it would spoil it.” (Abu Dawud; authenticated by al-Albani)

In the commentary on al-Bukhari, it is stated: This hadith is among the strongest warnings against backbiting. If this is the case for a word that is actually true—as Aisha merely described her as short—then what about one who says falsehood about others? Scholars have stated that the one who listens to backbiting shares in the sin of the one who speaks it. Just as backbiting is forbidden, listening to it is also forbidden. It is obligatory to condemn it if one does not fear harm; if one fears harm, he should leave the gathering. If he cannot leave, he should occupy himself with remembrance or something else so that he is not truly listening.

Thus, whoever hears backbiting must treat it as an opportunity to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. The Prophet said: “Whoever defends the honor of his brother, God will shield his face from the Fire on the Day of Judgment.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, classified as good)

Al-Sanani explained: “Whoever defends his brother’s honor against backbiting… it becomes a barrier protecting him from the Fire—whether the defense is in his absence or presence, though defending him in his absence is greater. If defending his honor carries such merit, then protecting his wealth and life is even greater and more rewarded.”

Despite all these verses, prophetic teachings, and reports emphasizing the seriousness of abandoning a fellow Muslim, this behavior has become widespread today—due to weak awareness of God, lack of self-accountability, and neglect of promoting good and preventing wrongdoing. Thus, the consequence matches the action.

Jabir ibn Abdullah (may God be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet said:
“No person abandons a Muslim in a situation where his honor is violated and his dignity is breached, except that God will abandon him in a situation where he would love to be supported. And no person supports a Muslim in a situation where his honor is violated and his dignity is breached, except that God will support him in a situation where he would love to be supported.” (Abu Dawud)

Al-Manawi explained: “Violation of dignity refers to speaking about a person in ways that are not permissible… and God abandoning him means abandoning him in a moment when he is most in need of support—on the Day of Judgment. Thus, abandoning a believer is strictly forbidden… and supporting him earns divine support on that Day, as a fitting recompense.”

Supporting a believer in times of injustice and abandonment is among the causes of divine aid, closeness, and victory. Whoever neglects this loses from these virtues in proportion to his neglect of loyalty to fellow believers.

The condition of this community will not improve until we truly establish ourselves upon the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet—without hypocrisy—until we overcome personal desires and rise above selfish inclinations. These are essential foundations; one cannot carry the message while neglecting the rights of others. These rights do not disappear—they accumulate until the Day of Judgment. So how can one hope to build a palace in Paradise while neglecting such shortcomings?

One cannot uphold “strength against disbelievers” while lacking “humility toward believers.” True honor belongs to God, His Messenger, and the believers—and all rights must be upheld if we hope to attain the full blessings of uprightness.

The Prophet said: “Satan has despaired of being worshipped by those who pray in the Arabian Peninsula, but he seeks to sow discord among them.” (Muslim)

O God, unite the hearts of Your servants, remove from them hatred, envy, and selfish desires, and bring them together like a solid structure upon Your Book and the teachings of Your Prophet. None can unite their hearts except You, the Most Glorious.