By Abdul-Kadir Abdullah
All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, we seek His help and His forgiveness, and we turn to Him in repentance. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our actions. Whomever Allah guides, none can misguide; and whomever He leaves astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad peace be upon him, is His servant and Messenger.
O servants of Allah, I enjoin you and myself to have taqwa—to be mindful of Allah in private and in public, in our words and in our actions.
Today’s sermon is titled: Protecting the Honour of Your Brother. In Islam, the honour, dignity, and reputation of a believer are sacred. Allah created human beings with dignity, and He commands us to preserve that dignity in one another. The tongue, though small, can either elevate a person or destroy them. Many people are careful not to harm others physically, yet they harm others deeply with words, whispers, and posts.
Allah says in the Qur’an (49:12), in meaning: "O you who believe, avoid much suspicion. Indeed, some suspicion is sin. And do not spy on one another, nor backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would detest it.”
Reflect on this powerful imagery. Allah compares backbiting to eating the flesh of a dead brother—something naturally repulsive. Yet people engage in it casually, in gatherings, in conversations, and even online, without realizing the weight of their actions.
The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him explained what backbiting is. He asked his companions, “Do you know what backbiting is?” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “It is to mention about your brother that which he dislikes.” It was said, “What if what I say about my brother is true?” He replied, “If it is true, you have backbitten him; and if it is not true, then you have slandered him.”
So whether true or false, harming someone’s honour is a serious matter. Slander (buhtan) is even worse, as it combines lies with harm.
Dear brothers and sisters, protecting your brother’s honour means more than just avoiding backbiting. It means: Defending them when they are spoken ill of; Refusing to spread rumours or unverified information; Advising them privately instead of exposing them publicly; Thinking well of them unless there is clear evidence otherwise
Allah says in Surah An-Nur (24:15-16), addressing those who spread rumours: "When you received it with your tongues and spoke with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge, and you thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allah, tremendous.”
How often do people forward messages, share stories, or repeat allegations without verification? In the sight of Allah, what we consider small may be enormous.
The Prophet peace be upon him, also said: "Whoever protects the honour of his brother, Allah will protect his face from the Fire on the Day of Judgment.”
This is a promise. When you stand up for someone, when you stop a harmful conversation, when you refuse to participate in gossip, you are not just helping your brother; you are securing protection for yourself in the Hereafter.
Consider also that honour is not only about reputation; it includes a person’s privacy, dignity, and feelings. Islam teaches us to conceal the faults of others.
The Prophet peace be upon him, said: “Whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter.”
This does not mean ignoring wrongdoing altogether. If there is harm being done or injustice taking place, it must be addressed—but with justice, wisdom, and proper channels, not through public shaming or destructive gossip.
Dear believers, the destruction of communities often begins with the destruction of trust. When people no longer feel safe from the tongues of others, unity collapses. Hearts become divided, and suspicion spreads.
Protecting your brother’s honour strengthens the bonds of faith. The Prophet peace be upon him said: "The Muslim is the brother of another Muslim: he does not oppress him, nor abandon him, nor belittle him.”
Belittling includes mocking, exposing faults, and speaking in ways that reduce a person’s dignity. We live in a time where speech is no longer limited to gatherings. Social media has made it easy to harm others instantly and publicly. A single message, a comment, or a post can damage someone’s reputation in ways that are difficult to repair. As believers, we must be more cautious than ever.
Before you speak, before you type, before you share—ask yourself: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it beneficial? Would I say this if the person were in front of me? If the answer is no, then silence is safer.
All praise is due to Allah. We thank Him for His guidance and His blessings. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad peace be upon him is His servant and Messenger.
O believers, part of protecting your brother’s honour is developing a pure heart, a heart free from envy, hatred, and the desire to see others fall. Many times, people speak ill of others because of jealousy or insecurity. Islam teaches us to purify our hearts and wish well for others.
The Prophet peace be upon him said: "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” Ask yourself: would you like others to speak about your faults? Would you like your mistakes to be exposed? If not, then treat others the same way.
Another important aspect is husn adh-dhann—having good assumptions about others. When you hear something negative, pause. Do not rush to judgment. Look for excuses. Give your brother the benefit of the doubt.
Scholars have said: if there is even one good interpretation for what someone said or did, take that interpretation and leave the negative ones.
Also, be among those who stop harm when they hear it. If people are backbiting in your presence, you have choices: Defend the person being spoken about; Change the subject; Remind others of Allah Or leave the gathering if necessary. Do not be a silent participant. Silence in the face of wrongdoing can sometimes be a form of approval.
Dear servants of Allah, remember that words cannot be taken back once spoken. On the Day of Judgment, every word will be accounted for.
Allah says (50:18), in meaning: “Not a word does he utter except that there is an observer ready to record it.”
Protect your tongue, and you protect your faith. Let us strive to be people who build, not destroy; who protect, not expose; who unite, not divide.
O Allah, purify our hearts from hypocrisy, envy, and hatred. O Allah, protect our tongues from falsehood, backbiting, and slander. O Allah, make us among those who defend the honour of our brothers and sisters. O Allah, conceal our faults and forgive our sins. O Allah, unite our hearts upon truth and righteousness.
Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives, and He forbids immorality, wrongdoing, and oppression. He reminds you so that you may take heed.
Abdul-Kadir Abdullah writes from the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Edo State Chapter.
