Mentioning a Deceased Person by Name and the Evil Deeds He Used to Do

Sh. ʿUthaymīn, may Allāh have mercy upon him, was asked about mentioning individuals by name, the evil deeds they used to do, and how Allāh dealt with them, and whether that falls under backbiting.

He, may Allāh have mercy upon him, replied:

“Yes, mentioning the dead with respect to their evil deeds was prohibited by the Messenger, upon him be praise and protection, for he said, ‘Do not speak badly of the dead, for they have reached the result of what they have sent forth.’ [al-Bukhārī (1329)]. Rather, pardon and forgiveness is sought from Allāh for them, it may be that his supplication is answered for them, thereby Allāh forgives them and pardons them. As for mentioning their evil deeds, then they are to be mentioned in an unspecified manner, so it is said, for example, in warning against interest, ‘Have you not seen people who violated the prohibitions of Allāh and they engaged in dealing with interest, then they departed from this worldly life and none of their wealth was buried with them, rather they left it behind for others, thus the spoil is for others and the loss is for them?’ and what is similar to that by which the living can take heed, as for mentioning him specifically, then this is not permissible.”

Fatāwá Nūr ʿalá al-Darb (12: 487, no. 6679).

Character

The Prophet ﷺ used to ask Allāh for beautiful character and manners despite him being the best role model for mankind.

Muḥāḍir Abū al-Muwarriʿ narrated us: ʿĀṣim narrated to us: from ʿAwsajah b. al-Rammāḥ: from ʿAbd Allāh b. Abī al-Hudhayl:

On the authority of Ibn Masʿūd [who narrated] that the Messenger of Allāh, may the praise and protection of Allāh be upon him, used to say:

“O Allāh, You have beautified my body, and so beautify my character as well.”

Reported by Aḥmad.

Ḥasan: Aḥmad (3823), (24392) and (25221). al-Bukhārī in al-Adab al-Mufrad (290). Ibn Ḥibbān (959). al-Ṭayālisī (374). Abū Yaʿlá (5181). Bulūgh al-Marām (1327) as in Hādī’s edition. See Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl (74) of al-Albānī.