Thinking Ill of Others

The habit of suspiciousness and thinking ill of others is an affliction which makes a person blind and plunges him into the dark pit of ruin. It is this unfortunate trait which brought about the worship of a dead human being. It is the same trait which alienates people from the Divine attributes of creation, mercy, providence, etc., reducing God to a useless entity—God forbid. It would be no exaggeration to state that it is in consequence of this habit that the greater part, indeed the whole, of hell will be filled. Those who think ill of the Commissioned ones of God Almighty scorn His bounties and His grace.

[Malfuzat, Vol. 1, p. 100]

The habit of thinking ill is a great curse which consumes faith as quickly as blazing fire consumes tinder. God becomes the enemy of him who thinks ill of God’s Messengers and He stands up to fight him. He entertains such jealousy on behalf of His chosen ones, as has no equal. When I was attacked in diverse ways, the same jealousy of God was roused on my behalf.

[Al-Wasiyyat, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 20, p. 317, footnote]

I tell you truly that the habit of thinking ill of others is a great affliction, which destroys a person’s faith, flings him away from truth and rectitude, and turns friends into enemies. In order to acquire the excellences of the truthful it is necessary that a person should altogether shun the habit of thinking ill of others, and should he happen to fall into that attitude concerning someone else he should seek forgiveness repeatedly and should supplicate God Almighty that he may be safeguarded against such sinfulness and the consequences that flow from it. This habit should not be underrated. It is a dangerous disease which destroys a person very quickly.

In short, thinking ill of another ruins a person. It is written that when those who are condemned to hell are brought face to face with it God Almighty would say to them: You had become guilty of thinking ill of God.

[Malfuzat, Vol. I, p. 372]

The mischief starts when a person indulges in false suspicions and doubts. If a person thinks well in every situation, he is bestowed the capacity to achieve good. A mistake at the very start makes it difficult to reach the goal. Thinking ill of another is a great vice which deprives a person of many opportunities of doing good and which goes on mounting till a person begins to think ill of God Almighty.

[Malfuzat, Vol. II, p. 107]

(Urdu Couplets)

Those who cultivate the habit of suspiciousness;
Deviate too far away from the path of righteousness.

Their tongue attacks recklessly;
In an instant, it earns the displeasure of the All-Knowing Lord.

By uttering one word, they nullify all their good deeds;
Thereafter they continue to sow the seeds of mischief.

These countrymen of ours have fallen in such deep sleep;
That they do not wake up though we tried to wake them hundreds of times.

All their limbs have become atrophied, rendering them so negligent;
All their power is concentrated in their sharp tongue.

Either they indulge in foul talk, or they think ill of others;
As for the rest, they are totally unaware of the plight of Islam.

Try not to think ill of a person even though you find him wicked;
Be fearful of the wrath of the Lord of the world.

Perhaps your own eyes might make a mistake;
Perhaps he is not bad who looks bad to you.

Maybe it is the fault of your understanding;
Maybe it is a trial from the Forgiving Lord.

As a result you courted spiritual death on account of your suspiciousness;
And incurred the wrath of the Holy God.

If you become so shameless in your audacity;
Don’t you think the word Ittiqa would become meaningless?

Moses too suffered embarrassment because he doubted;
Read in the Holy Qur’an1 what Khidr did.

Between God and His servants, there are hundreds of thousands of secrets;
Of which you know nothing, nor is their reality evident to you.

[Brahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Part V, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 21, pp. 18-19]