Basic
Social Conduct
Surah: Al-Mujadila (9)
O Believers When You Converse Privately Do Not Converse in Sin — Private Conversation and Its Psychological Effect
إِذَا تَنَٰجَيۡتُمۡ فَلَا تَتَنَٰجَوۡاْ بِٱلۡإِثۡمِ
— المجادلة الآية 9
Verse: "O believers when you converse privately, do not converse in sin and transgression and disobedience of the Messenger." (58:9) — The hypocrites would whisper in the presence of believers about things that would grieve them — making them think it concerned them with evil. The verse was revealed to prohibit whispering in sin and direct private conversation toward good. "Private conversation is from Satan" (58:10) — whispering that grieves a believer without cause = satanic. The difference between forbidden private conversation (sin and transgression) and permitted (good and taqwa). Lesson: privacy is a right, but whispering in front of others about things that grieve them is blameworthy character.
Source: Ibn Kathir (8/60); Al-Sadi
Test Yourself
What is the difference between forbidden and permitted private conversation in the Mujadila verses?
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