A beautiful quote that was shared by a beautiful brother, may Allah reward him and keep him sincere and steadfast — and it is a principle that Shaykh Ahmad bin Musa Āl-Jibrīl (حفظه الله تعالى) teaches through his preaching and applied action, being one who is slandered as the preferred hobby and pastime of choice by the people of innovation and heresy.
When one experiences slander, one should not only be patient, but rejoice as well, as this is an opportunity from Allah to expiate one’s sins:
ويُرْوَى عَن عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بن مَهْدِيّ أَنَّه قَالَ: "لَوْلا أَنِّي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يُعْصَى الله لسَرَّنِي أَنْ لا يَبْقَى في المِصْرِ أَحَدٌ إلَّا اغْتَابَنِي، وأَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَشْهَى مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ يَجدُهَا المَرْءُ في صَحِيْفَتِهِ لَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا".
It is narrated from Abdul-Rahmān bin Mahdiyy:
“If it were not that I disliked for Allah to be disobeyed, it would have brought me happiness that no one in this city remained, except having spoke ill of me behind my back (Gheebah), for what could be more pleasing than a good deed that a man finds in his record [on the Day of Judgment], which he never performed [nor knew about]?”
[Tabaqāt Al-Hanābila 3/398]
So be patient my brothers in the face of slander, remember to purify your intentions, make sure your pious persona you publicly display reflects your private, and remember to keep the Taqwa of Allah between your eyes at all times, and possibly the most important aspect which will aid you in performing all of the above, keep your tongue moist with the Istighfār of Allah.
