Backbiting and Slander.

Allah states that Qur’an is our Guidance: “This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear God” [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:2]. The Holy Qur’an provides a clear guidance about backbiting and slander. And Allah says, “And why did you not, when you heard it, say? It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to God, this is a most serious slander" [Surah An-Nur, 24:16]

One of the Most Destructive Of Major Sins.

Islam forbid lies, suspicion, back biting, slander and gossips are totally alien to Islam. In fact they are considered amongst the most destructive of major sins. These sins sow enmity and discord among the Muslim Ummah and lead to its destruction. It will cause hostilities between people of the same household, and between neighbors, friends and relatives.

Islam commands that our relationship with mankind should be conducted on basis of sincerity and responsibility. It emphasizes in respecting others for the honor, reputation and privacy. Islam stress that we are accountable for our own attitudes, conducts, actions and anything which we have control or influence over, in our society or the world around us.

God Has Forbidden the Believers from Backbiting.

O you who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the [latter] are better than the former; Nor let some women laugh at others; it may be that the [latter] are better than the [former]; Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by [offensive] nicknames; ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness [to be used of one] after he has believed: And those who do not desist are [indeed] doing wrong. [Surah Al- Hujurat, 49:11]

O you who believe! Avoid suspicion as much [as possible]: for suspicion in some cases is a sin; and spy not on each other, nor speak ill of each other behind their backs [backbiting]. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would abhor it… But fear Allah; for Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. [Surah Al- Hujurat, 49:12]

A brief reflect over this assimilation it should be a clear message for us to keep away from backbiting!

Do Not Treat The Issue Of Backbiting & Slander With Indifference Because It Is A Great Sin.

Behold, you received it on your tongues, and said out of your mouths things which you had no knowledge; and you thought it to be a light matter, while it was most serious in the sight of God [Surah An-Nur, 24: 15]

Many of us back bite and gossip without thinking. We think it is a minor matter. However, God reminds us to be extra careful as the smallest sin is in fact very big in the sight of God!

Allah Teaches Us To Speak Out Against Slander And Try To Put A Stop To It.

And why did you not, when you heard it, say? "It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to God, this is a most serious slander" [Surah An-Nur, 24:16]

Many people are so busy spreading the slander they hear that they do not even stop to think if it is true or not.

Syaitan Wants Us To Use Our Tongue To Create Conflict And Hatred.

Say to My servants that they should only say those things that are best, for Satan does sow dissensions among them, for Satan is to man an avowed enemy. [Surah Al-Isra’, 17:53]

Are we falling into Syaitan's [Satan's] trap? We can all analyze ourselves.

Hadiths: Let's see what Prophet Muhammad said about Backbiting in the hadiths. God states in the Quran: You have indeed in the Messenger of God an excellent pattern of conduct. [Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:21)

The Definition of Backbiting & Slander.

Prophet Muhammad said:” Do you know what backbiting is?" They said, "God and His Messenger know best." He 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 God said, "If what you say about him is true, you are backbiting him, but if it is not true then you have slandered him." [Muslim]

We should guard our tongue from sins and use our limbs in acts of obedience

Prophet Muhammad said: "Who protects his tongue from unlawful utterances and his private parts from illegal sexual intercourse; I shall guarantee him entrance into Paradise." [Bukhari and Muslim]

The Definition of the Best Muslim.

"I asked the Messenger of God: Who is the best Muslim? The Messenger of God replied, "He is the one from whom Muslims are safe from the evil of his tongue and hands." [Muslim]

Deriding people in their presence by making negative facial expressions or by hand gestures while they are unaware is also a form of backbiting.

We Need To Beware Of the Slipping Of Our Tongues

"When man wakes up in the morning each day, all parts of the body warn the tongue saying, ‘Fear God as regards us for we are at your mercy; if you are upright, we will be upright and if you are crooked, we become crooked.’" [At-Tirmidzi]

Summary

The practice of backbiting and slander is widespread phenomena today and it is an avenue for expressing their anger, misgivings and jealousy. It should be aware that those who indulge in backbiting are oblivious that they are not doing justice at all but only harming themselves. This is because on the Day of Resurrection both the wrongdoer and the wronged will stand before Allah SWT, Who is the Just Judge, Allah will then bestow the wronged person from the good deeds of the person who wronged him in accordance with his wrong by backbiting.

But some situations allow us to inform others of what someone has done. It is allowed for us to inform the authorities only when someone conducts injustice to the others. It is also allowed for us to inform someone who could stop a perpetrator from committing further vice. It is also permissible for us to tell whoever seeks our advice on a person for business dealings or marriage. In this case it is not allowed for us to hide what we know about the person so that the enquirer will not be deceived. Only l these types of conduct of talking about others are lawful; the rest is forbidden.

Islam teaches us that if people are being ridiculed or backbite in our presence, we should defend their honor. If we neglect this, we shall be depriving ourselves of ever needed help and mercy from Allah. If a fellow Muslim brother is slandered in his presence, and he is capable of defending him and does so, God will defend him in this world and in the next. But if he fails to defend him, God will destroy him in this world and the next. [Baghawi].

We ask Allah SWT for His guidance, blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions.

[[Via Fuqaha; Islamhadhari excerpted from Friday News ]