Is it better for a person to think ill of others or to think well of them, and how can this be reconciled with the Prophet's (PBUH) saying: "By Allah, he does not believe; by Allah, he does not believe; by Allah, he does not believe." It was asked: "Who, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "He whose neighbor is not safe from his mischief"? And how can ill-suspicion be a safeguard?

Allah has forbidden having ill thoughts about a believer. Allah Almighty says: "O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin." (Quran 49:12). And there are prophetic narrations that prohibit ill thoughts, such as his (peace be upon him) saying: "Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the falsest of speech." And his saying: "The sanctity of a believer is greater in the sight of Allah Almighty than your own sanctity, his wealth and his blood, and that one should not think of him except good." There is no comparison between having good thoughts about Muslims and having ill thoughts about them; because the former is obligatory and the latter is forbidden. As for the phrase "Ill thoughts are a protection," it is not a prophetic narration. And what has been reported with a similar meaning, such as "Caution is ill thoughts," and "Beware of people with ill thoughts," and "Whoever thinks well of people will have much regret," are very weak sayings, or from the كلام العرب (sayings of Arabs), and it is not permissible to attribute them to the Prophet (peace be upon him). And assuming their authenticity, they are interpreted as referring to someone from whom evil is expected. The default is to have good thoughts about a believer.