Imagine on Judgment Day thinking you were a great Muslim, but only seeing mountains of sins

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Many of us might think we're on the right path, but sometimes what we believe is righteous can actually be sinful. Let's be mindful of these traps. Some examples below, with Arabic terms explained at the end for new Muslims. # Revealing others' mistakes In Islam, whoever hides the faults of a fellow Muslim will have their own faults hidden on Judgment Day. [Source.](https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6069) A lot of people feel it's their duty to call out and spread others' sins, but this often hurts their own soul. You'll see someone sharing screenshots and making fun of what others say online. Yet the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us to be merciful and to cover up, except in certain fiqhi cases like testifying in court or warning about fraud. [Source.](https://islamqa.info/en/answers/105391/when-is-backbiting-allowed-in-islam) # Throwing around takfir Calling someone a kafir is a huge deal in Islam. A wrong accusation can backfire on the accuser. [Source.](https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6103) The scholars of the past would take many careful steps before ever declaring anyone a kafir-they'd clarify what the person meant, advise them, give them time to return to guidance, and so on. [Source.](https://www.abuaminaelias.com/dangers-of-takfir-declaring-muslims-to-be-apostates/) Nowadays, casual takfir is way too common, especially online. People toss around "kafir" like it's nothing. They think they're doing good, but they're damaging their own deen. Many unlearned Muslims accuse others of kufr for sins that, according to fiqh, don't take a person out of Islam. This is really risky. # Saying someone will enter Hell Some of us look at a sinner and say they're definitely going to Jahannam. We might feel righteous, but spiritually this is very dangerous. There's a hadith about two men: one a sinner, the other devout. The devout one swore the sinner would go to Hell (or, as another version says, that Allah won't forgive him). Allah became extremely angry at that claim, and the man's good deeds were wiped out. [Source.](https://sunnah.com/qudsi40:31) Too many of us are quick to condemn others to Hell, not realizing the huge weight of those words. # Confusing harshness with piety Islam places a big emphasis on mercy, respect, and balance. A lot of Muslims mistake their harshness for righteousness, but it harms them spiritually. For example: - Forbidding things that are actually halal and enjoyable - Treating every scholarly disagreement as deviance - Making any political view a part of the deen Moderation and mercy are core to Islam. Being rough with others over religious matters is not encouraged. # Glossary Fiqh = Islamic jurisprudence Takfir = declaring someone a kafir, excommunicating them from Islam Kafir = one who knowingly disbelieves in Islam after the truth has been made clear to them