Backbiting and slandering are two of the major sins in Islam. These two sins are forbidden by Allah because they sow enmity, evil and discord among people and lead to destruction. Normally, these two sins are initiated with deceit and intended harm for others. In most of the cases these tear apart the otherwise harmonized and friendly moral fiber between They cause hostilities between people of the same household, friends, neighbours and relatives. In fact backbiting and slander set forth non ending hostilities and disintegration of relations.
Divine Admonishment of Backbiting and Slandering
Owing to the harmful effect of these two ugly sins, Allah has cautioned believers against this un-Islamic act, cautioning severe consequences who indulge in such evil acts. Let us quote a few verses from Qur'an:
- Condemnation of Backbiting:
"O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful." (Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:12)
This verse equates backbiting to eating the flesh of a dead brother, a vivid and graphic metaphor that illustrates the abhorrence of this act in the sight of Allah. It emphasizes how detestable backbiting is, both morally and spiritually.
- Prohibition of Slander and Falsehood:
"Woe to every scorner and mocker." (Surah Al-Humazah, 104:1)
This verse condemns those who engage in mockery and scorn, behaviors often associated with backbiting and slander. It serves as a warning to avoid speaking ill of others.
- Guarding One’s Tongue:
"Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)." (Surah Qaf, 50:18)
This verse reminds believers that every word spoken is recorded, highlighting the importance of being mindful of speech, particularly when discussing others.
- Spreading Goodness and Avoiding Harm:
"And speak to people good [words]..." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:83)
The Qur'an instructs believers to speak kindly and avoid words that cause harm or spread negativity. Backbiting is the opposite of this command.
Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ related to Backbiting
In one of the Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
Do you know what is backbiting? They (the Companions) said: Allah and His Messenger know best. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) 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 said: If (that failing) is actually found (in him) what you assert, you in fact backbited him, and if that is not in him it is a slander.
Note: You may like to read our earlier post: A Qattat will not enter Paradise (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) on the similar theme.
- Definition of Backbiting (Ghibah): The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ defines backbiting as speaking about a fellow Muslim in a way that he or she would dislike, whether the statement is true or not. It involves mentioning someone's faults behind their back, which they would not want others to know or discuss.
- True vs. False Statements: The Prophet ﷺ clarifies that if the fault being mentioned is actually present in the person, it is considered backbiting. If the fault does not exist, it becomes slander (buhtan), which is an even greater sin because it involves spreading falsehoods and lies about someone.
- Impact on Relationships: Backbiting damages relationships, spreads negativity, and fosters distrust within the community. It is seen as a destructive force that undermines social harmony.
Wisdom Behind the Prohibition of Backbiting
- Protecting Dignity and Honor: Islam places great emphasis on preserving the dignity and honor of every individual. Backbiting violates these principles by exposing and highlighting faults in a way that causes harm.
- Promoting Social Cohesion: By prohibiting backbiting, Islam seeks to maintain unity and trust within the community. When people refrain from speaking ill of one another, relationships are strengthened, and conflicts are minimized.
- Encouraging Self-Reflection and Repentance: The emphasis on avoiding backbiting encourages individuals to reflect on their own behavior rather than focusing on the faults of others. It promotes self-awareness and humility.
- Guarding Against Greater Sins: Backbiting often leads to more significant sins, such as spreading falsehoods, causing enmity, and breaking relationships. By curbing this behavior, Islam aims to prevent a cascade of negative actions.
Consequences of Backbiting:
- Spiritual Consequences: Backbiting distances a person from Allah’s mercy. It is considered a serious sin that can lead to the displeasure of Allah and potential punishment in the Hereafter.
- Social Consequences: It breeds mistrust and resentment, creating divisions within families, friendships, and communities. The social fabric is weakened when individuals feel unsafe from verbal attacks behind their backs.
- Personal Consequences: Engaging in backbiting reflects poorly on one’s character. It often leads to a loss of respect and trust from others.
The The above quoted verses from Qur'an and Hadith on backbiting, highlight the severe spiritual and social harm caused by speaking ill of others. It stresses the importance of guarding one’s tongue, preserving the dignity of others, and fostering a positive, respectful environment. By avoiding backbiting, believers align themselves with the ethical and moral standards set by Islam, promoting harmony and mutual respect within the community.
Now just look around and see how much slandering and backbiting we are accused of - knowingly (mostly) and unknowingly. There is a special caution for women whose gossip is generally comprised of backbiting and slandering. That is why in one of the Hadiths, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned women hat on his ascent to the heaven during Israh, he would poor people in Paradise and more women than men in the Hell, for the bad habit of backbiting and slandering in the worldly life. Let us make an effort to desist and refrain from these two sins which severe consequences.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A. You may also to our reference page: Oft asked Queries from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more Hadiths on the subject and our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Photo | Source of Hadith | Additional Resource Reference | Help taken from ChatGPT for expanding meaning of the theme of the post.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.
Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.
0 comments:
Post a Comment