Criticizing the Era of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and His Rightly Guided Caliphs

Abstract

During the time of the Prophet Muhammad and the Rightly Guided Caliphs, defamation was forbidden by Islamic law, as it was considered an attack on dignity and a cause of discord. Rules were established to protect reputations and prevent lying and backbiting, and penalties were prescribed for slander. The approach focused on reform, deterring injustice, and protecting society from moral harm. Justice, discretion, and offering advice before punishment were observed to achieve the desired objectives. Defamation is behavior that Islam treats with judgment and guidance, because of its significant impact on individuals and society. Defamation, at its essence, is the act of exposing a person’s defects or disclosing his shortcomings to others with the intent to belittle or humiliate him. It is basically forbidden in Islamic Sharia because it causes the spread of immorality and harms the honor and dignity of a Muslim. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade such actions, as Allah says: "Do not defame one another or call one another by (offensive) titles." He also warned against spreading immorality among believers. However, in the time of the Prophet, there were cases where defamation was permissible, but these were within a narrow framework and limited to public interest, such as warning against hypocrites, liars, or those who violate public trust. This approach continued during the time of the caliphs.During the time of the direct caliphs, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) publicly shamed those who were proven to have cheated or dishonest in the markets to warn the people against them, without exaggeration or injustice. Thus, it can be said that public shaming in Islam is divided into two types: permissible and impermissible. Permissible shaming is that which serves the public interest and deters corruption, while impermissible shaming is that which is intended to cause harm or personal revenge. Therefore, public shaming during the time of the Prophet and the guided caliphs was not a means of revenge or defamation, but a means of justice, protection of values ​​and moral security in Islamic society.