21/07/2026
don't slander pple
A Story About the Consequence of Slander
“A story is circulated about Imam Malik teaching the seriousness of slander. However, its authenticity is not established. The Islamic ruling against false accusations is firmly established by the Qur’an (24:4) and authentic hadith.”
It is narrated that a woman passed away in the outskirts of Madinah, and a group of women gathered to perform her ghusl (ritual washing).
While one of the women was washing the body of the deceased, her hand passed over the deceased woman’s thigh. At that moment, she remarked:
“Sisters, this woman had an illicit relationship with so-and-so man.”
The moment those words left her mouth, her hand became firmly attached to the thigh of the deceased woman. No matter how much she tried, she could not free it.
Time passed, and the family of the deceased urged her to finish quickly, as night was approaching and they still had to perform the Janazah Salah and complete the burial.
She replied:
“I am trying to remove my hand, but I am unable to do so.”
The night passed, and morning arrived, yet her hand remained attached. The family became deeply concerned and sought advice from the scholars.
One scholar advised:
“Cut off her hand.”
However, her family refused, saying:
“We cannot allow her to suffer such a hardship.”
They then approached another scholar, who advised:
“Cut the flesh of the deceased where her hand is attached.”
Again, the family refused, saying:
“We do not want to harm or disfigure the body of the deceased.”
Three days passed with no solution. The weather was hot, and the condition of the body began to worsen. News of the matter spread throughout the surrounding areas.
Eventually, they took the matter to Imam Malik (RA), who was the chief judge of Madinah at the time. After hearing the details, he said:
“Take me to the place where this occurred.”
From behind a veil, he asked the woman:
“My sister, did you say anything at the moment your hand became attached to the deceased?”
She replied:
“I only said that she had an illicit relationship with so-and-so man.”
Imam Malik then asked:
“Do you have four witnesses to support this accusation?”
She replied:
“No.”
He asked:
“Did the deceased herself inform you of this sin?”
She replied:
“No.”
He then asked:
“Why, then, did you make such an accusation?”
She answered:
“I only saw her passing by the door of that man’s house.”
Imam Malik then recited the verse of the Qur’an:
“And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses—flog them with eighty lashes and do not accept their testimony ever after. And they are the defiantly disobedient.”
(Surah An-Nur 24:4)
He explained:
“You accused a deceased woman of a serious sin without evidence. The punishment for such a false accusation is mentioned in the Qur’an.”
It is narrated that the woman was then given eighty lashes, and after this, her hand became separated from the deceased woman’s body.
This story serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of slander, false accusations, and speaking about others without knowledge. Islam teaches us to guard our tongues, verify what we hear, and never harm the honour of others with words that we cannot prove.
The lesson is absolutely Islamic:
* Falsely accusing a chaste person of zina is a major sin.
* Allah says:
“Those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses—flog them with eighty lashes…”
(Qur’an 24:4)
* The Prophet ﷺ authentically said:
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent.”
This is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
These teachings are well established regardless of whether this particular story is true.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)
🤲🏻May Allah protect us from backbiting, slander, and ظلم (wrongdoing), and grant us the wisdom to use our words only for what pleases Him.
Ameen.
