Backbiting and Slander

BACKBITING

Is when you say something about a person in his absence that he would not like for you to say, and it is the truth

Includes going round telling your business to others eg your husband beat you up last night, your husband wouldn't like you to tell anyone what he did, unless you are telling someone who can help you for instance, an imam


SLANDER is worse than backbiting: Is to say something about a person that the person would not like behind his back that is not true

GOSSIP is to go round carrying tales about people to other people

ALLAH WARNED US IN THE QURAN
(in the interpretation of the meaning)
Allah says: And do not backbite one another
Allah says: Woe to every slanderer and backbiter
Allah says: A slanderer going about with gossip

This is a horrific sin: Is in the same category of sin as Adultery, Fornification, Stealing etc



HADEETH RASULULLAH

1. "The one who speaks gossip will not enter Paradise"

2. The Prophet, pbuh, once passed by 2 graves and he said, "Verily both of the occupants in the grave are being tortured and they are not being tortured for something major: one is being tortured for not cleaning himself of urine; and the other for going round gossipping about other people".

3. Once in a sermon the prophet, pbuh said, "Verily your blood and your wealth and your honour are sacred for you just as this day of yours is sacred, and this land of yours and in this month of yours, have I not conveyed?"

4. "On the day of judgement after the people cross the sirat bridge you will be stopped, you will be stopped and prevented from entering Paradise, you will be told to settle the score, pay up for the slander, gossip and backbiting and you will then be thrown into hell-fire."

5. "When I ascended to the heaven I came across a people who had nails made of brass with which they are scratching their faces and chests and I asked Gibrail: Who are these people Gibrail? - They are the ones who ate the flesh of people and dishonour them."

6. "A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim, he does not betray him, nor does he lie to him, nor does he forsake him. All of the Muslim to another Muslim is sacred, that means his honour, his wealth, his blood. Taqwa, which is fear and obedience to Allah is right here (and he pointed to his chest)."

Only Allah knows who is pious, because piety is in your heart. You could be calling someone pious but they are sitting around backbiting another individual.

Backbiting, Slander and gossip are serious sins which we need to seek refuge with Allah from

THE LIMITS OF BACKBITING

Instances when backbiting is allowed:

1. To warn the other Muslims against the evils of a person eg he is a known renegade against Islam, he interferes in the establishment of Islam. It becomes your obligation to warn others of him.

2. When you want to get help in regards of your problems from a person who can help you like an imam