Protecting a person’s dignity and good name is a core duty in Islam, and ruining someone’s reputation hurts far more than physical pain, today’s Friday sermon reminded Muslims across the Maldives.
Delivering the sermon titled “The Honor and Dignity of Muslims,” the Ministry of Islamic Affairs said that Islam strictly forbids anything that brings people down or harms their self-respect. The sermon recalled Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) famous speech during his Farewell Pilgrimage, where he warned that a person’s life, wealth, and honor are sacred, just like the holy city of Mecca and the sacred month of Dhul Hijjah.
The sermon pointed out that everyone knows physical harm is wrong. However, attacking someone’s character causes even deeper pain. Even though words leave no physical wounds on the body, the emotional damage, sadness, and loneliness they cause can ruin a person’s life and push them away from society.
Highlighting how valuable a believer is in Islam, the sermon noted that Allah views a person’s honor, life, and wealth as even more sacred than the holy Kaaba. Islam also set strict rules against false accusations, forbidding people from spreading lies about others, spying on their private lives, or talking behind their backs.
The sermon also warned about the dangers of the internet today. In just a few seconds, people use social media to spread rumors and embarrass others out of anger or jealousy, without checking if the stories are true. It cautioned parents that attacking others online in front of their children sets a bad example for the next generation.
Reminding the public of the Prophet’s advice that repeating everything one hears is enough to make a person a liar, the sermon urged everyone to watch their words, stop spreading rumors, and protect each other’s honor.
