Is My Brother Justified in Punching Someone Who Slanders Our Family and Abuses a Girl?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
My brother punched someone that gossiped about him and his family and friends and sexually assaulted one girl. Please advise.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
It is wrong and sinful to gossip about anyone and commit abuse. No doubt, one will be angry, which can lead to an instantaneous reaction which your brother ended up doing. However, this can lead to many other dangers, and in the family’s best interest, it would be better to report the case to the police due to abuse. It is always better to be wise, suppress one’s anger in these moments, and take the best course of action.
Wise Man Does Good
Shaddad Ibn Aws (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The wise man holds himself accountable and performs good deeds to prepare for what comes after death. The foolish man gives into his lowly desires and seeks their indulgence from Allah.” [Tirmidhi]
Whoever Controls His Anger is Filled with Faith
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever suppresses his rage although he is capable of unleashing it, then Allah will fill him with assurance and faith.” And the Prophet recited the verse, “They are those who suppress their rage and forgive people, for Allah loves those who do good.” [Quran, 3:134] [Suyuti, Jami al-Sagir; Tabari, Tafsir al-Tabari]
Related:
The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained [Video]
A Reader on Anger Management and Good Character
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
