Some People Have The Disease Of Criticising All The Time
They Forget The Good About Others And Only Mention Their Faults
Originally, Criticism is giving advice and Feedback after careful studying — It isn`t only lawful in Islam, but it is also required as it is a form of enjoining kindness and Forbidding iniquity.
This is because the aim is to guide the criticized person to that which is good and avoid that which is evil.
However, this should be done with sincerity since the Messenger of Allah(saw) said: "Religion is sincerity, religion is sincerity (Al-Nasihah), religion is sincerity." They said; "To whom, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "To Allah, to His Book, to His Messenger, to the Leaders of the Muslims and to their common Folk." (Muslim).
Accordingly, every Muslim is required to show sincerity to Allah, His Book, His Messenger, Leaders of the Muslims and the common Folk. The people of righteousness and Fairness like those who criticize them and show them their Flaws as this helps them avoid the latter.
It was reported that Umar Bin Al-Khattab used to say {what means}: "May Allah have mercy on the one who had shown me my shortcomings." He showed Gratitude to those who had criticized him in kindness because they did him a big Favor.
A Fair critic must Fear Almighty Allah, offer criticism, seek recompense From Him alone, and perform the duty of enjoining kindness and Forbidding iniquity.
This is in addition to criticizing with wisdom, avoiding thinking ill of the criticized, being meticulous and truthful, and avoiding cursing, mockery, defamation, injustice, and Falsehood since these are major sins.
This attested to in the Following Hadith:
Abu Bakrah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: Delivering the sermon during the Farewell Pilgrimage on the day of Sacrifice at Mina, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Verily your blood, your property and your honour are as sacred and inviolable as the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours and in this town of yours. Verily! I have conveyed this message to you."
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Without these controls, criticism opens the door For corrupt individuals to incite enmity, spread rumors, assassinate character, and question achievements under the pretext of criticism.
Moreover, criticism is to be delivered by the specialized, not the ordinary people, and Facts must be ascertained before any act of criticizing.
This is because Allah says:" O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful”. (Al-Hujurat — 6).
The Prophet (saw) said: "It is enough Falsehood For a man to relate everything he hears." (Abu Dawoud).
It has to be differentiated between criticizing individuals and criticizing their acts affecting society, so it isn`t permissible to transgress against personal life through defamation and slander.
Sometimes we think that criticizing others somehow gets us closer to them, or strength our personality.
The Truth is that — Criticism does not prove your shrewdness. On the contrary, your ability to avoid it as much as possible, and attempt to correct people in ways that do not cause them any hurt or embarrassment is the indication of an astute person.
Criticism is like a whip that the critic uses to lash someone’s back. Some people repel others either by the excessiveness of their criticisms or by criticizing bygone things where their criticisms do not rectify any wrongdoing or achieve any objective.
So, the point is that — Islam permits Criticism that considers the rules enhancing the value of sincerity in society, separates what is evil From what is good, and achieves common Good. But we should avoid such Criticism that hurts someone's heart.
May Allah(swt) include us among His Obedient Servants.(Ameen).
JazakAllah (May Allah Reward You [with] Goodness)For Reading.