ِح لٱ ِب ٱل ِه لٱ
ْس ِم َّٰل َّرَٰمْح ِن َّر ِمي
Respected brothers in Islam, today I want to discuss a topic that holds
immense importance in our lives as Muslims – "Husn Zann" or having a
positive assumption of others. This principle is rooted in the Quran and
the Hadith. Applying husn zann is what will lead to stronger
relationships, unity, and a more peaceful society.
Allah says in surah al hujuraat:
َيٰٓـَأَهُّيا ٱِذَّل يَن َء اَمُنو۟ا ٱْج َتِنُبو۟ا َكِثًۭري ا ِّم َن ٱلَّظ ِّن َّن َبْع َض ٱلَّظ ِّن ٌۭمْثۖ َو اَل َجَتَّس ُس و۟ا َو اَل
ٱ ٱ َأِحُي َأ ْمُك َأ ْأَلُك َل ِإ َأِخ ِه َفَك ِإ
َيْغَتب َّبْع ُض مُك َبْع ًض اۚ ُّب َح ُد ن َي ْح َم ي َم ْيًۭتا ِر ْه ُتُم وُه ۚ َو َّت و َهَّلل ۚ َّن
۟ا ُق
ِإ
١٢ ٱَهَّلل َتَّو اٌۭب َّر ِح ٌۭمي
"O you who believe, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some
assumption is sin." This verse tells us that having negative thoughts
about others without any evidence is not only harmful but Haram. In a
world filled with judgments, Allah calls upon us to always have Husn
Zann – the practice of assuming the best about our fellow believers.
The holy prophet emphasized and taught the sahaba about husn zann as
well. He said in a hadith reported by Bukhari and Muslim,
، َو َال َحَتاَس ُد وا، َو َال َجَتَّس ُس وا، َو َال َحَتَّس ُس وا، َف َّن الَّظ َّن َأْك َذ ُب اْلَح ِد يِث، اَّي ْمُك َو الَّظ َّن
ِهَّلل ِع ُك َغ َال َال ِإ ِإ
َو وُنوا َباَد ا ْخ َو ااًن، َو َتَبا ُض وا،َو َتَد اَبُر وا
ِإ
"Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do
not look for the others' faults and do not spy, and do not be jealous of
one another, and do not cut your relations with one another, and do not
hate one another; and O Allah's worshippers! Be brothers."
When interacting with others, we have been taught to approach with
empathy and kindness. We should interact with others in the same way
as the holy prophet would have done so with the sahaba in his beloved
seerah.
Once, a companion named Abdullah ibn Zubair reported an incident
where he was certain that another companion, Abdullah Ibn Umar, had
lost his camel. When he informed Abdullah Ibn Umar, he responded by
saying, "Do not grieve over your camel, for I have seen the Messenger
of Allah say that it has died."
This incident beautifully illustrates the concept of Husn Zann. Despite
the negative assumptions that could have been made, such as the camels
being stolen, both companions approached the situation with trust and
understanding.
There is a great story of a man called Bishr al-hafi. he was an alcohlic.
he’d spend most of his time drinking and partying. until one day he was
walking back to his home and on the way he saw a piece of paper lying
on the ground. When he looked at the piece of paper, he realised that the
name of Allah was written on the piece of paper. He picked the paper up,
read it and took it with him. He was a very poor person. He didn’t have a
lot of money. Despite this, with the little money he had, he took it to a
perfume shop and he bought the most expensive perfume he could
afford. When he got home, he sprayed perfume on the piece of paper and
kept that piece of paper in a very high place in his house. the same night,
when he slept, he had a dream that Allah said to him: “O Bishr! As you
have made My Name sweet, I swear by My Glory that I will make your
name sweet both in this world and the next.”
Despite being in such an intoxicated state, and not knowing his
surroundings, he saw the name of Allah and still gave reverence and
honour to the name of Allah. And this action became so beloved to Allah
that he made Bishr al-Hafi from amongst the closest of his servants. He
became a wali meaning a great saint of his time
We can take a lot of lessons from this story that no matter how far you
have strayed from the path of Allah, one small step can take you back to
the right path. We should never lose hope in Allahs mercy.
When we see someone who is striving to change his ways and become a
better person, we should always assume good for that person. Encourage
him and pray for him. Because we never know, just like Allah elevated
the satus of Bishr al-Hafi, Allah may raise any one of us in status too.
Bishr al-Hafi was an alcoholic. His life changed because of this one
good action that he did, and went on to become a great wali.
For this reason, Abdullah ibn Abbas r.a. gives a beautiful example on
how you can act upon this. he says if you smell Alcohol on the beard of
your Muslim brother, you should assume that someone has spilt it there.
We shouldn’t ever accuse or assume that someone is guilty of
committing sin. Instead we should have husn zann (good thought) and
find excuses for our Muslim brothers.
So, why is Husn Zann so important for us as Muslims? It creates unity
within the community, promotes positive relationships, and preserves the
dignity of individuals. Imagine a world where we assume the best in one
another, where misunderstandings are avoided, and where conflicts are
resolved easily.
This is why the prophet said, “assume the best about your brother, until
what comes to you from him, overcomes you”, meaning unless there is
absolutely clear evidence that somebody is in the wrong, we should
assume the best for that person.
The benefits of Husn Zann extends beyond our interactions with other
people. It affects our relationship with Allah as well. Allah says in surah
fussilat:
ْلٱ ِّم َأَف َأ َظ ِذَّلٱ
٢٣ َو َٰذِلْمُك َظ ُّنُمُك ى َننمُت ِبَر ِّب ْر َد ٰى ْص َبْح مُت َن َخ ٰـ ِرِس يَن
ْمُك ْمُك
It was that false assumption about your lord that has brought about your
doom. So you have become losers.
Imam Hasan Basri has explained this verse by saying Every
man’s attitude and conduct is determined by the thought and
opinion that he has about his lord. The conduct of a righteous
believer is right because his thought and opinion about his
Lord is right, and the conduct of a disbeliever and a hypocrite
and a sinful person is wrong because his thought and opinion
about his Lord is wrong.
This is why the prophet said that Allah says “I am with the
thought and opinion that My servant holds about Me.”
(Bukhari, Muslim).
To conclude, let's make a conscious effort to implement Husn Zann in
our lives. Let's replace suspicion with trust, judgment with empathy, and
negativity with positivity. By practicing this simple principle, we can
build a more harmonious community, strengthen our faith, and earn the
pleasure of Allah and His Messenger.
May Allah guide us to embrace Husn Zann and may it become a
foundation of our interactions.
May Allah allow us to act upon what has been said.
May Allah forgive me for anything wrong which I may have said
Ameen.
ِمَل ْلاِخ َدْع َأ ٱْل ُد ِهَّلِل ِّب ٱ
َو َء ُر َو ُهٰىْم ِن َح ْم َر َع ٰـ َني
