Concealing Others’ Faults, Except to Warn of Harm

Question

In a pamphlet entitled “Every Muslim Should Live Thus, Day and Night”, published on behalf of Hazrat Hakim al-Umma Thanawi, it is written on p. 30: if you learn of someone’s fault, conceal it; however, if someone wishes to harm another and you come to know of it, tell that other person about it. What is the meaning of this passage?

Answer

The meaning of this passage is entirely plain and clear: if one person wishes to cause harm to another, the person who would be harmed should be informed of the harm coming from the one causing it, so that he may protect himself from that harm; but to expose someone’s fault merely in order to humiliate him is not permissible.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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