Zann

Zann lexically means 'to suspect, to accuse (of), assumption, suspicion'. This is something we see so rife on a daily basis. Our hearts have become so darkened and hateful that everybody is fixed upon making nasty assumptions about others.

The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam has spoken at length about this and there are many chapters in the books of ahadith that speak of zann. The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam said,

“Keep yourself away from suspicion for it is the worst of false things. Do not pry into the affairs of other people. Do not compete with one another (to gain worldly possessions and hurt one another in the process). Do not turn your backs to fellow men. Do not be jealous of other people and do not despise anyone. But, live as salves of Allah, one brother to another brother.”

These words of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam must be taken into deep consideration. Many people are fixated with keeping the worst views about everybody else. There are many people in society who love to take a ‘pop’ at others and try to knock the self esteem out of them. These people are fools of the highest order. Some people are such that they cannot take another person surpassing them in affairs of religion and thus vilify them in order to taint the reputation of a person. Some people have these type of characteristics and it is something very worrying to keep in ones heart. It can destroy people’s lives and the life of the one who bears it in his heart.

Sayyidna Abdullah radiallahu anhu used to say,

“When theft is committed of a person’s possession, he goes on assuming and presuming (so much) that he surpasses the thief himself”

Meaning, he begins to think about all the possible thieves and in doing so, he applies his suspicion to people who are not even in the wrong! Instead of being intent on one thief, he creates many possible thieves and wrongdoers. Accordingly, his sins exceed the sin of the real thief due to his suspicion about which the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam clearly said, “Avoid suspicion.”

It is a very dirty and filthy characteristic to possess. We should regularly check our hearts and keep them free for this. How can we check our hearts? The next time we are in a situation that perhaps warrants our thoughts of a person, we should immediately turn away from all negativity and entertain positive thoughts. Rumours spread by bad people, saying bad things. Avoid yourself from being like this, even if is done to you. Hazrat Aishah radiallahu anha said,

“The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam was not rude, nor did he pretend to be rude. Nor did he shout in the market places. He did not repay evil with evil, rather, he forgave and overlooked.”

These are the characteristics that we must place into our life. Always think the best of people, no matter what they have allegedly done. Even if people around you are maintaining such views, you do not need to keep them too. Rather, you can be the person that thinks the best about people and in return, Allah Ta’ala will think best of you. Unfortunately, there are many dim-witted fools who like to force their nasty opinions down the throats of others. We must all look to the good in people.

Allah Ta’ala give us all the ability to act on what has been said. Ameen