Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Allah says And never backbite each other. Does any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother, which you so detest?
Allah gives the example of backbiting to eating the flesh of a persons dead brother. Just as people detest and hate this cannibal act, they should also hate the act of backbiting.
Backbiting (gheebat) is a serious offence in the Shariah, and is sadly carried out even by people who regularly perform their namaz and are regarded as being pious. We fail to realise the gravity of this deed in this world but will be harshly reminded in the Hereafter. Then, it will be too late for regrets.
The Prophet (s) once asked the Sahabah, “Do you know what backbiting is?” … “It is to mention such a thing about your brother which he dislikes” … “What if the thing mentioned is to be found within the person?” .. “If it is in him, you have backbitten him, and if it is not in him, then you have slandered him.”
A person will be guilty of backbiting even though one mentions the fault which is disliked in front of the person concerned or in his absence.
The Prophet (s) once mentioned that backbiting is worse than adultery.
When someone asked the reason, the Prophet (s) said, “When a person commits adultery, and repents to Allah, Allah will forgive him. However, if he perpetrates backbiting, he will not be forgiven until he is first forgiven by the person against whom he had spoken ill of.”
Backbiting is also violating Allah’s rights because Allah had forbidden it. At the same time, he violates the rights of the people because he is bringing dishonour and shame to someone.
If we have backbitten about someone, then as well as sincere repentance (tawbah) to Allah, we should also ask forgiveness from the person we have abused.
You only have to ask forgiveness from them if they find out what you have done.
If they don’t find out, then you have to seek forgiveness FOR them from Allah until your heart is content that you have made up the wrong of backbiting.
The Prophet (s) has mentioned that the expiation of backbiting is to pray for the forgiveness of the person who was backbitten by saying - Allahummagh fir lee wa la - O Allah, forgive me and him.
The Prophet (s) has said that on the night of Miraaj, he saw some people whose nails were of copper. They were constantly tearing their faces and chests with these nails. These are people who stole the honour of others, meaning they backbited about people.
Just as it is haraam to engage in backbiting, it is also haraam to listen to backbiting.
When a person hears another engage in backbiting, it will be necessary for the listener to forbid the backbiter and to speak in defence of the person being backbitten.
The Prophet (s) said: “When a person defends someone whose flesh is being consumed by backbiting, it will be binding on Allah to save him from the fire of Jahannam”.
The Prophet (s) said: “When a person defends the honour of his Muslim brother, it will be binding on Allah to save him from the fire of Jahannam on the Day of Qiyamah.”
The Prophet (s) then recited the verse: Assisting the Mumineen is a binding duty upon us.
Backbiting about dead people is just as bad as doing it about living people.
Backbiting is not only verbal but is also with eyes and limbs as well as
mimicking a person.
Backbiting about a persons children or wife will be double backbiting.
If a person cautions another about the evil of someone, it will not be regarded as backbiting.
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