The 365 · Tazkiyah · Day 363 · Heart
al-Inshighāl bi-ʿUyūb al-Nās · Counting Others' Faults
The disease
الانشِغالُ بعُيوبِ النّاسِ
al-Inshighāl bi-ʿUyūb al-Nās
The story
ʿĪsā ﷺ said: 'How can you see the speck in your brother's eye while ignoring the log in your own?' Similar wisdom in Islam: the believer's eye is supposed to be turned inward.
Why it's named first
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Glad tidings to the one who was preoccupied with his own flaws over others' flaws.' The disease is the opposite: spending heart-energy detecting flaws in spouse, colleague, neighbor, scholars, leaders, while one's own flaws remain unaudited.
In the Qur'an
وَلا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلا يَغتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا (الحجرات 12). 'Do not spy and do not backbite one another.' (al-Ḥujurāt 49:12)
In the Sunnah
«طوبى لمن شغله عيبه عن عيوب النّاس». 'Glad tidings to one whose own flaw kept him busy from people's flaws.' (al-Bayhaqī)
The cure
Each time the heart begins to evaluate another, redirect to self-evaluation. Ask: what flaw do I have that I am ignoring while focused on theirs? The redirect transforms the conversation; the heart stops trafficking in others' flaws.
What is at stake
The flaw-counter becomes the community's evaluator. People avoid him. His heart fills with judgments. The Day will reveal that he saw others without seeing himself.
A du'a for this day
«اللَّهُمَّ أَرِني عُيوبِي وَاسْتُرْهَا عَنِ النّاسِ». 'O Allah, show me my flaws and cover them from people.'
The door of mercy
Al-Sattār (the Coverer). Allah covers our flaws; we should cover others'.
A reflection to carry
Glad tidings to the one preoccupied with his own flaws; he has the rare disease that opposes the disease.
Read the longer reflection
The Heart cluster's final diagnoses turn the believer inward. Counting others' flaws is a luxury the believer cannot afford; his own flaws need full attention. May Allah grant us eyes that see ourselves clearly and tongues that protect others' reputations.
A verse, a healing, and a Sunnah, every morning.
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