Is it Haram to Learn About Other Muslim’s Sins?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I was wondering if it is haram to learn about Muslim dictators who did not rule according to Sharia law and committed horrible sins such as murdering innocent people, torturing them, taking bribes, forcing others to commit immoral acts, etc. Since studying them for the sake of history includes learning about their sins, would this be haram?
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.
One should not read about historical figures just to learn about their sins and cruelty. Esteemed scholars say if one is reading about history, one should read about their life to learn about the overall history to gain benefit from it and take moral lessons. In this case, it will not be backbiting.
We, as an Umma lack reading about our history, even the history of the native country we live in or of our forefathers, thus, we misunderstand the context and issues of the native land and of our forefathers.
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.
Related Answers
- How to Apply the Rules Regarding Backbiting and Slander in Historical Sources? – SeekersGuidance
- History Archives – SeekersGuidance
- Studying History – SeekersGuidance
- SeekersGuidance Essential Reading List For Every Muslim’s Bookshelf – SeekersGuidance
- The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained – YouTube
- Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms, and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart
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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.
