Gossip and Backbiting

[بنت الأزور]

Gossip and Backbiting

Many gatherings people produce nothing but gossip about other Muslims and slander of their honor . This is something which Allah has forbidden His slaves , and has drawn the most repulsive analogy to put them off . He says
:

"

And do not backbite one another . Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother ? You would hate it
."

[ Surah al –Hujuraat ( 49 ) : 12 ]

The Prophet explained the meaning of this aayah . He said
:
"
Do you know what gheebah ( gossip or backbiting ) is
?
They said , " Allah and His Messenger know best
.
"
He said : " To say something about your brother that he does not want to be said
.
"
He was asked , " What do you think if what is said about him is true
?"
He said : " If what you say about him is true , this is backbiting , and if what you say about him is not true , this is slander
. "

Reported by Muslim , 4/2001

Gossip or backbiting means saying something about a Muslim which may be true but which he does not like to hear spoken , whether it be about his physical appearance , his adherence to religion , his worldly affairs , his self , his behavior or his character . There are many forms of gossip , including talking about a person's faults and imitating him to make fun of him
.

People take the matter of gheebah very lightly , although it is very serious in the sight of Allah , as is indicated by the words of Prophet
:
"
There are seventy-two forms of ribaa, the least of which is as bad as a man having intercourse with his own mother , and the worst of which is when a man slander the honor of his brother

"
Silsilah al-Saheeh , 1871

Whoever is present in a gathering where gossip takes place should forbid this evil and defend his absent brother . The Prophet encouraged us to do this when he said
:
"

Whoever defends the honer of his Muslim brother , Allah will protect his face from Fire on the Day of Resurrection

"
Reported by Ahmad , 6/450 ; see also Saheeh al-Jaami` , 6238

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