In The Name Of Allah the most Beneficent

In The Name Of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Gracious, the most Merciful!

Backbiting & Slander an Islamic perspective

Islam prohibits backbiting and slandering

To talk about backbiting we need to first define exactly what is backbiting ? If we turn towards the sayings of Prophet Muhammad(saw) we can find a very accurate definition of this term and it differentiates between the term "backbiting" and "slander".

Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Prophet Mohammad (SAW) said: "Do you know what backbiting is? ” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best. ” He (SAW) then said, “It is to say something about your brother that he would dislike. ” Someone asked him, “But what if what I say is true? ” The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “If what you say about him is true, you are backbiting him, but if it is not true then you have slandered him. “ [Sahih Muslim Book 32, #6265]

So Now we have understood

Backbiting = To say something about a person in his absence & that he would not like for you to say and it is the truth. n Note: Backbiting is not done by the tongue alone, it can also be done with the eyes, hands and other movements. For example, copying somebody who is limping, in order to insult him.

Slander = To say something that a person would not like in his absence and that is not true.

Gossip = To carry tales back and forth to others.

Remember We are all answerable to Allah (swt) and one day we will be questioned for what we spoke. It is important to have fear of Allah (swt) in our hearts. We have to know and realize that our deeds are being recorded, that Allah (swt) is seeing everything: ALLAH (swt) says in the Quran "Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private counsels? Indeed (We do), and Our messengers are by them, to record. “ {Quran: 43 -Surah Al Zukhruf #80} What will we do then?

Translation of the meaning: O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most. Merciful Surah 49 Al-Hujurat Ayah 12

Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah.

2. Allah (SWT) says: "O you who believe! Let not some men among you deride others who may be better than they (are), nor let women (deride) women who may be better than they are; neither defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. Evil is a bad name after faith. " Surah 49 Al-Hujurat Ayah 11

3. Allah (SWT) says: "Woe to every sneering defamer. " Surah 104 Al- Humazah Ayah 1

4. Allah(SWT) says: "Neither obey thou each feeble oath-monger; detractor, going about with slander. " Surah 68 Al- Qalam Ayah{10 -11}

Evidence from the Sunnah 1. Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (SAW) as saying: Do you know what is backbiting? They (the Companions) said: Allah and His Messenger know best. Thereupon he (SAW) said: Backbiting implies your talking about your brother in a manner which he does not like. It was said to him: What is your opinion about this that if I actually find (that failing) in my brother which I made a mention of? He (SAW) said: If (that failing) is actually found (in him) what you assert, you in fact have backbitten him, and if that is not in him it is a slander. [Sahih Muslim Book 32, #6265]

2. The Prophet (SAW) said: "One of the greatest of the major sins is to stretch out one's tongue without right against the honor of a Muslim. ” [Sunan Abî Dâwûd (4877)]

3. Aishah (RA) relates that she said to the Prophet (SAW): "It should tell you enough about Safiyyah that she is short. " To this he (SAW) replied: "You have said a word that if it was to be mixed with the water of the sea, it would contaminate it. " [Sunan al- Tirmidhî (2502) & Sunan Abî Dâwûd (4875)]

4. Two Companions once criticized a man who had been punished for committing adultery. The Prophet (SAW) was traveling and he passed by the carcass of a donkey. He (SAW) said: "Where are those two people? Get down and eat from the flesh of this donkey!" They said: "O Prophet of Allah! Who would eat this? " He said: "What the two of you have recently done by defaming the honor of your brother is far worse than eating from this. " [ Sunan Abî Dâwûd (4428)]

Eat from the flesh of this donkey ? Can we ?

5. Narrated by Anas ibn Malik The Prophet (saw) said: ‘When I was taken up to heaven I passed by people who had nails of copper and were scratching their faces and their breasts. ’ I asked: ‘Who are these people, O Jibrael? ’ He replied: ‘They are those who were given to back biting and who aspersed people's honour. ’ [Sunan of Abu- Dawud (4860) ]

6. Narrated by Abu. Barzah al- Aslami The Prophet (saw) said : ‘O community of people, who believed by their tongue, and belief did not enter their hearts, do not backbite Muslims, and do not search for their faults, for if anyone searches for their faults, Allah will search for his fault, and if Allah searches for the fault of anyone, He disgraces him in his house!’ Sunan of Abu- Dawud (4862)

7. One time, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) pointed towards two graves and said to his companions that both of these people are being punished in their graves. One of them used to backbite people and the other was not careful about spilling drops of urine on his clothes and body whilst urinating.

Some words of the Pious Predecessors Amr b. al- s, while traveling with his companions, once passed by the dead, rotting body of a mule and said: "I swear by Allah, it is better that one of you should eat from this until he fills his stomach than for him to eat the flesh of a Muslim. " Kab al-Ahbâr said: "Backbiting nullifies a person's good deeds. " Al- Hasan al- Basrî said: "I swear by Allah, backbiting is swifter in consuming the religion of a Muslim than a gangrenous infection is in consuming the human body. " Sufyân b. `Uyaynah said: "Backbiting is worse than a debt. A debt can be paid out, but backbiting cannot. " `Ali b. al- Husayn once heard two people engaged in backbiting and said: "Keep away from backbiting, for it is the broth of the mongrels among people. "

What to do if I did Backbiting Gossiping before knowing this ?

* Backbiting violates the rights of Allah and the rights of people simultaneously. Hence, It is necessary to ask forgiveness from the victim first, since Allah will not forgive until the victim forgives. If the victim has died or is untraceable, then ransom has to be paid. Anas (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The ransom for backbiting is to pray to Allah forgiveness by saying, “ O Allah! Forgive my sins and his too. ”

What we need to do now ? Today this disease is so widespread that it is seen in every house. What we need to do is take this disease out of us. Narrated By Sahl bin Sa'd : The Prophet (saw) said, "Whoever guarantees me (the chastity of) what is between his legs (i. e. his private parts), and what is between his jaws (i. e. , his tongue), I guarantee him Paradise. " [Sahih Bukhari Vol 8, Book 82, #799]

The problem is not with the evidence that it is forbidden. The problem is * How to eliminate this from within ourselves? * How do we make sure we do not commit this sin anymore? One thing is for sure, we have to stop this today. . right now.

Let Us see Some factors that causes backbiting and how we can deal them & cure this disease from us ? 1. Subsiding anger Cause: This is done by backbiting the person who kindles his anger -so everytime this person makes him angry, he subsides it by backbiting the person. Through this (the backbiting), he feels he is getting even with the other person. Cure: The cure for this is the advice of the Messenger Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam "Whoever suppresses his anger while in a position to enforce it, Allah will call him at the head of the creation until he chooses for him from the hoor'een (special women of Jannah that are promised to the believer), for him to marry from them as he pleases. [Ahmad and At- Tabaraanee]

2. Wanting to keep Mends Cause: In order to maintain friends with others, a person indulges in backbiting because he is afraid of losing their friendship. Thus he does not reprimand them when they backbite, but indulge in it with them. Cure: To cure this he must remember the saying of the Messenger Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam “Whoever solicit the pleasure of men by displeasing Allah, Allah will consign him to mankind”. [At- Tirmidhi]

3. Wanting to raise one's status with other people Cause: This is done by debasing others, by saying things like such and such a person, is ignorant or his understanding is weak, thus indirectly implying that he is more knowledgeable than the one he debases. Cure: In order to cure this sickness, the perpetrator must be reminded that Allah is the final judge and this person that he is claiming is ignorant, might be better than him with Allah. Furthermore, that person may be excused because of his lack of understanding.

4. Playing around and making fun of others Cause: This could involve mockery and sarcasm. Cure: It is enough to remind those indulging in this practice of what Allah, the Most High said: "O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter is better than the former. . . " [Al-Hujuraat 49: 11] At other times, it could involve lies, as mention is made of some people in a way to make others laugh. It is enough to answer with the statement of the Messenger Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam: "Woe to the one who speaks and lies to make people laugh, woe to him, woe to him" [Ahamad, Abu Dawood & others]

5. Envy Cause: Through envy, a person is backbited because of his noble position and high standing. Cure: In order to debase and reduce his worth in people's eyes. The envier should reflect upon the statement of the Messenger Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam: "Faith and envy cannot exist together in the heart of the slave". [Ahmad 8: 436]

6. Fear of Blame Cause: Something is attributed to a person who wants to free himself from it, by blaming another person totally, although they both had shared in the act. He does this so that he can free himself from being blamed. Cure: The correct thing to do is to acquit himself honestly, and not try to throw the blame upon anyone else.

7. Having too much spare time Cause: This can cause a person to fall into backbiting, because it is easy for such an idle mind to become busy with women/men, their honor and their faults. Cure: To correct this a person must spend his time in acts of obedience to Allah, worship, seeking knowledge, and teaching others. The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: "Two blessings are misused by people, good health and spare time to do good. " [Bukhari]

8. Trying to get close to a person in authority to acquire material gains Cause: In order to get close to those in authority and to gain their favors, someone may backbite his workmates with his boss. Cure: To cure this, he must realize the true value of this world with Allah, the Glorious, and that He is the Provider, and that He would allow him to get only what he deserves. And no boss can give him anything if Allah, the Sublime does not will such for him. The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: ". . . know that if the nation (all mankind) were to gather together to benefit you with something, it would only benefit you with something that Allah had already prescribed for you. . . " [At-Tirmidhi]

9. Another important factor that many of us need to change is "bad company“ A good companion would discourage you and stop you from doing bad. A bad companion would however encourage you and in many cases make you do wrong and that is one of the reason why we are suffering from the negative "Peer Pressure" problem. Abu Musa (RA) reported Allah's Messenger (SAW) as saying: The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of the owner of musk and of the one (iron-smith) blowing bellows, and the owner of musk would either offer you free of charge or you would buy it from him or you would. smell its pleasant odour , and so far as one who blows the bellows is concerned, he would either burn your clothes or you shall have to smell its repugnant smell. [Sahih Muslim Book 32, #6361]

Note: Backbiting to save a Muslim from harm is permitted, but the best thing is not to talk unnecessarily about anyone in a good way as well because the devil- Shytaan will entice you into mentioning his faults. For example, “He's a good person but he has these habits………. ” To save ourselves from this sin and many others, one should act upon this Hadith which deserves to be written in gold. The Hadith states, “Whoever stayed quiet saved himself. ”

NOW WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT!?

Don’t you want to save yourself & your family & relatives & friends from this major sin ? May Allah Taa'la save all of us from the hell fire and all sins that we have committed.

n REFERENCES n 1. Article on "Suspicion, spying and backbiting" online at http: //www. inter- islam. org/Prohibitions/Backbiting. html n 2. Article on "BACKBITING" online at www. iad. org/islam/back. html n 3. BACKBITING by Abdul Malik Al. Qasim Translated by Sami Ayoub and Mrs. Vivian Taylor Ayoub, DARUSSALAM Publishers & Distributors, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.