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Freedom of honour in Islam

الحرية في الأعراض

Muhammad al-Khidr Husayn holds that a person naturally wants his honour kept free from attack, and that the law treats honour as sacred as blood and flesh, so no one may spread another's hidden faults (pp. 84-85). He allows an exception where preventing harm requires it, such as disclosing a man's fault in sincere counsel to someone about to marry into his family or deal with him (pp. 85-86). He also excludes a person who has openly displayed his own wrongdoing, whose case is not backbiting in the same sense (p. 85). He links a strong will for guarding one's honour to a high aim, and a weak will to decline (p. 84).

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Era
The Modern Era
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Global / Diaspora
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Rights and freedoms

Overview

Muhammad al-Khidr Husayn holds that man loves to have his honor kept from defamation, and that the law makes honor as inviolable as blood and flesh: publishing another's concealed faults is unlawful 1 2. The exception is what warding off harm requires — disclosing a man's fault to one set on dealing or intermarrying with him, as sincere advice 2 3 — and the man who proclaims his own sin and tears his own veil is not backbitten by mention 2. He links a person's will to guard his honor with the community's freedom.

People and things also explored

Justice and grace (adl wal-fadl)· Bayt al-mal (public treasury)· Causes of ownership· Economic freedom in Islam· Equality in Islam· Freedom in Islam· Freedom of property in Islam· Rights and duties (huquq wal-wajibat)

Sources

  1. Freedom in Islam — Muhammad al-Khidr Husayn , p. 84
  2. Freedom in Islam — Muhammad al-Khidr Husayn , p. 85
  3. Freedom in Islam — Muhammad al-Khidr Husayn , p. 86
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Freedom of honour in Islam”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/freedom-of-honour-in-islam/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.

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Ideas

Beliefs, concepts, sciences and schools, explained in plain words. Related

Justice and grace (adl wal-fadl)

Sheikh Omar Abdelkafy distinguishes justice, a duty, from grace, which is recommended. He holds that recovering rights by lawful means follows from justice, that grace does not come from weakness, and he also takes up the occupation of land and holy places.