Investigating Matters

RASOOLULLAH’S ATTITUDE ON INVESTIGATING MATTERS
Once Hazm, the son of Ubay bin Ka’b attended the Maghrib salah in the Musjid of his locality (in Madinah). The Imam was Mu’aaz bin Jabal (radhiyallahu anhu) who was appointed by Rasoolullah for imamate duties in that particular musjid. Hazam entered the Musjid, but offered the Maghrib salaah on his own, and left thereafter. Mu’aaz bin Jabal came to know of this and lodged a complaint with Rasoolullah the next day. He said: “O Messenger of Allah, last night Hazam perpetrated an act of bid’ah (by reading salah on his own and not joining the jamaat); I do not know where he got this practice from.”

The Messenger of Allah summoned Hazam and asked for an explanation. Hazam responded: “O Messenger of Allah, when I entered the Musjid the Imam (Mu’aaz) had started Surah Baqarah in the Maghrib salah. I could not stand behind him for so long, so I read my Maghrib salah on my own but in a proper and good manner, then left.”
The Messenger of Allah turned to Mu’aaz and said: O Mu’aaz, do not be the creator of fitnah (by reading so long rakaats and causing people to shun the jamaat salah)”
(Kanzul-Ummal)
There are two important morals learnt from this incident: a) A person in position of authority such as Imam, father, principal, employer, etc, should always investigate a matter before passing judgment or taking punitive action. The way to investigate a complaint is to call up the person concerned and listen to his side of the story. Once that is done, one may execute an action accordingly. b) The second lesson is that propagation of Deen should be done in a manner that draws people towards Islam, not through actions that distance people even further. This is what Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) referred to as fitnah.