Responding to negative comments Fatwa No: 90263
- Fatwa Date:12-7-2005
If someone reacts to you in a negative way how do you react back? Like I am feeling pressure at school, and they make rumors about me, how am I to react back?
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Islam urges a Muslim to pardon, forgive and be tolerant about people's mistakes and their mistreatment if the matter is about his own self. Allaah says (what means): {And whoever pardons and makes reconciliation his reward is [due] from Allaah}[Quran 42:40]
Allaah also says (what means): {And whoever is patient and forgives — indeed, that is of the matters [requiring] determination}[Quran 42:43]
Allaah further says (what means): {And to forego it is nearer to righteousness. And do not forget graciousness between you.} [Quran 2:237]
In another verse, Allaah says (what means): {Who restrain anger and who pardon the people- and Allaah loves the doers of good}[Quran 3:134]
Moreover, the Prophet said: "There are three things which I swear to be true: giving charity does not decrease your wealth, when a man [a slave of Allaah] is wronged and he bears it patiently, Allaah will give him greater honour on that account; and when a man [a slave] opens a door towards begging, Allaah opens for him a door towards poverty.” [Ahmad]
On the other hand, the best way for a Muslim woman to stop rumors from spreading about her is to be steadfast on the Sharee'ah of Allaah, to fully adhere to Hijab, to abide by the Islamic morals (when walking, talking, behaving...etc) and to stay away from evil and suspicious places. If she does so, people will not speak about her in a bad way and they will not slander her or accuse her in her honor.
For more benefit about Hijab and that it is an obligation on a Muslim woman, please refer to Fatwa 83033, and to Fatwa 83702 about the description of Hijab, and to Fataawa 84281 and 87469 about studying in mixed schools.
Allaah Knows best.