This is not my original work but I am sharing it because I believe the issue is very relevant, be it for Nigeria, or for Nairaland "debates."  While I don't believe the writer is advocating covering up anyone's wrongdoing, I am interested in others' opinions, especially from our more scholarly posters (the type that can back up their assertions with Quranic or Hadith quotes).   


Treating other Muslims
A Muslim is he/she who doesn't harm other Muslims with his/her words, hands or actions. A Muslim is he/she who is ready to make seventy excuses for other Muslims and doesn't dishonor other Muslims behind his/her back nor belittles other Muslims. A Muslim is he/she who loves for other Muslims what he/she loves for himself/herself. A Muslim is he/she whose heart is clean towards other Muslims.

On the Day of Judgment someone's book of deeds will be given into his hands and he will not see there any of the good deeds he did, in good faith, for God's sake. He will ask the Lord, "Why aren't my good deeds recorded in here?" and the Lord will answer, "They have been given to the ones you hurt and insulted by talking against them." [Ibn Hibban]

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr(RA): The Prophet (SAW) said, "A Muslim is the one who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue and hands. And a Muhajir (emigrant) is the one who gives up (abandons) all what Allah has forbidden." [Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 9]

You claim that you fear the hell fire but you have thrown yourselves in. You claim that you love paradise but you don’t make an effort for it. You say we fear death, but you don’t prepare for it. You read the Quran but you don't act on its commandments. You claim that you love the Prophet (SAW ) but you don’t follow his way. You know the rights of Allah upon you but you don't fulfill them. Your hearts are Dead.

‎"Help one another in righteousness and piety; but do not assist one another in sin or transgression" [Al-Maaidah 5:2]

On the Day of Judgment our own organs------our tongue, our eyes, our ears, our hands, and the rest of our physical being----will be witnesses against us. Above all, watch your tongue, for speech is the unique gift that Allah has bestowed only on the human being. The welfare of the rest of you depends on your tongue.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand [by taking action]; if he cannot, then with his tongue [by speaking out]; and if he cannot, then with his heart [by hating it and feeling that it is wrong] – and that is the weakest of faith” (Muslim]

Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): "Who is the most excellent among the Muslims?'' He said, "One from whose tongue and hands the other Muslims are safe.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He does not wrong him, he does not fail him (when he needs him), he does not lie to him, and he does not show contempt for him. [Muslim]

‎"Whoever wishes to be delivered from the Fire (of Hell) and enter the Garden (of Paradise) should treat people as he wishes to be treated by them." [Muslim]

‎"If a friend among your friends errs, make seventy excuses for them. If your hearts are unable to do this, then know that the shortcoming is in your own selves" [Hamdun al-Qassar]

“If you find see something you don’t like in a brother, try to find 1-70 excuses for him. And if you can’t find an excuse, say ‘There might be an excuse, but I don’t know it. [ Jafar as-Sadiq ]

Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Munazil (Allah have mercy upon him), of the early Muslims, said, “The believer seeks excuses for their brothers, while the hypocrite seeks out the faults of their brothers.” [Sulami, Adab al-Suhba]

Imâm Muhammad bin Sîrîn (rahimahullâh) said: "If you were to find out that your brother has done something bad, then you should look after an excuse for him, if you can't find an excuse, you should say "He has an excuse.""
(Shu´b-ul-Îmân (6/323) by Imâm al-Bayhaqî)

If we don't forgive each other, why do we expect Allah to forgive us? If we don't show mercy to others, why should we ask Allah for mercy for ourselves? This point is highlighted in this beautiful Hadith. "No mercy will be shown to those who show no mercy, and no forgiveness will be given to those who cannot forgive others." [Bukhari]

Keeping quiet. The Messenger (SAW) said: “If any one of you gets angry, let him keep quiet.” (Ahmed Musnad, 1/239). Anger usually makes a person lose control, often to the extent that he may utter words of kufr (Allaah forbid), or curses, or the word of divorce [talaaq] which will destroy his family, or foul language that will earn him the enmity of others. Keeping quiet is the way to avoid all of these evils.

Surely soon we will face a divine court on the day of the Last Judgment, where the supreme judge is Allah, the prosecutors are His angels who have recorded our most minute deeds. The witnesses are our own members: eyes, ears, tongue, hands and feet as well as our deeds who will witness against us or be with us.

Watch your tongue, do not ever insult anyone. Harsh words can cut deep wounds, deep down to the heart. But when you are one so wounded say to your oppressor "peace" and no more. For it is said: The one who guards his tongue is at peace. The best of all words are in Holy Quran and the best way to say them is the way the beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did. So read it and study it and act by it.

Every good or evil thing that you say, be it openly or secretly then it is written – for or against you. Allaah, the Blessed and Exalted says, ",  not a word does he utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)" (50:18)

Know this, and beware! Beware that their emit from your tongue a saying which will count against you on the Day of Judgement. Make sure that your tongue is continuously articulating the truth or that it remains silent as the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "whosoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day then let him speak only good or remain silent." [Bukhaaree]

“O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds, and will forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger, he has indeed achieved a great achievement.” [al-Ahzaab 33:70]

“By al-‘asr (time). Verily! Man is in loss, except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth and recommend one another to patience.” [al-‘Asr 103:1-3]

http://www.facebook.com/notes/islam/treating-other-muslims/230381563641221

SubhanAllah. This is a very good post, one should definitely read this. Very relevant issue nowadays, we tend to forget that we Muslims are one big family.

JazakAllahu Khairan.