THE CONDEMNATION OF BACKBITING

THE CONDEMNATION OF BACKBITING

The Creator of the heavens and the earth has strictly condemned backbiting in the Qur'an, and backbiting has been compared with eating the flesh of your dead brother. Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Qur'an,

"O believers! Avoid most suspicions, verily some suspicion is a sin and do not look out for faults and do not backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it. And fear Allah, Verily Allah is Oft Returning, Merciful." (Surah Hujurat, Verse 12)

The commentator of the Qur'an, Sadrul Afdaal, Hazrat Allama Naeem ud Din Muradabadi rehmatullah alaihe says in his explanation of this verse, "If some one does not desire to eat the flesh of his dead brother then he must not talk behind his back either. Just imagine, how would one feel if his flesh is being cut and eaten and he is helpless like a dead body to defend himself? This metaphor is used as an example to make us realise that backbiting hits hard upon the heart and breaking some one's heart is forbidden in Islam and is considered a deadly sin. And backbiting hurts the other person's self respect, and self-respect is more important than man's flesh. (Khazain ul Irfaan)

While commenting upon the circumstances surrounding the revelation of the verse, he writes that when Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam prepare himself to leave for struggle in the path of Islam (Jihad), he used to put two wealthy Muslims with one poor Muslim in a group so that the poor would serve the rich and would get food and shelter in return. In this way all of them enjoyed ease. Once Hazrat Salman Farsi radiallaho ta'ala anhu went with two men.

One day he slept and could not cook the food and so the two rich people sent him to Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam. The attendant of our Prophet Muhammad sallalaho alaihe wasallam was Hazrat Osama radiallaho ta'ala anhu. He told Hazrat Salman Farsi radiallaho ta'ala anhu that he did not have anything left with him to give him. Hazrat Salman Farsi radiallaho ta'ala anhu gave the same reply to the two rich men. Both of them said, "Osama has been miserly." When they went to meet Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam, the Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam said to them, "I am seeing the pieces of meat on your mouths." They said, "No, we have not eaten meat." Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "You have done backbiting, and one who does backbiting of a Muslim, he has eaten his flesh." (Khazan ul Irfaan)

My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! In this world of today, you will find very few people who are not habitual backbiters. It has become a social custom that if two people meet, they start backbiting a third person who is not present with them. Our shallow morality and lack of seriousness in attitude may take us towards the fires of hell. We must wake up from this drowsiness of negligence and ignorance and should realise that backbiting is a deadly sin. Why do we opt for torturing others and choose torture for ourselves in the world hereafter? We should be sensible and wise enough to choose the right path for ourselves but we can never do so without the strength given to us by Allah Ta'ala. May Allah save us from the habit of backbiting. Aameen

What is backbiting?

Hazrat Abu Hurairah radiallaho ta'ala anhu narrates that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "Do you know what backbiting is?" The companions of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "Allah Ta'ala and Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam know best." Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "Backbiting is saying something against your brother which is disliked by him." Someone asked, "What if that thing is present in his brother (then it may not be backbiting)?" Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam clarified, "If you say something which is present in your brother, it is backbiting, if you say something which is not even present in your brother, then it is blame." (Sahih Muslim Shareef)

My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! After knowing the clear-cut definition of backbiting, we need to always watch our words, intentionally or unknowingly we must not backbite. We must not break the hearts of other Muslim brothers. May Allah Ta'ala give us the strength of saving ourselves from backbiting and all other deadly sins. Aameen.

Backbiting worse than adultery

Hazrat Abu Saeed and Jabbir radiallaho ta'ala anhuma narrate that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "Backbiting is a more deadly sin than adultery." The people asked why backbiting was a more deadly sin than even adultery.

Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, " A man commits adultery and then ask for forgiveness, he is forgiven but a person who backbites is not forgiven until that person forgives him whose backbiting he had done." (Rawahul Baihiqi Fi Sha'bal Iman)

My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! We are all aware of the ill effects of adultery. Everyone knows that adultery causes livelihood to be reduced, the noor from the face disappears, and two families are destroyed. An adulterer has no respect in society. However, Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam has said that a backbiter is worse than an adulterer is. This means the effects of backbiting and its punishment is worse than adultery. Therefore, do not involve yourselves in backbiting for the sake of a few seconds pleasure and risk humiliation in this world and the hereafter. May Allah save us from all sins. Aameen.

Hadith Regarding the Ascension

Hazrat Anas radiallalaho ta'ala anhu narrates that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "On the night of Ascension, I passed by a nation who were scratching and bruising their faces and chests, I asked who they were. The Nightingale of Sidra (Hazrat Jibra'eel) told me, "They are those who ate the flesh of people and used to attack their respect and honour." (Roohul Bayan). My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! What a frightening punishment for backbiters has been mentioned in this Hadith, that the backbiters will scratch and injure their faces and their chests with their own hands because they had injured the hearts of the people by backbiting. Backbiters will be forced to do this so that they can feel the pain they caused to others by their backbiting. May Allah Ta'ala save us from deadly sins like backbiting.

The Smell of Backbiting

Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah radiallaloho ta'ala anhu narrates that we were sitting with Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam, all of sudden a foul smell rose. Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "Do you know what this foul smell is?" He continued, "It is the foul smell of those who used to talk behind the back of Muslims." (Fatawa E Razwiya)

My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! The King of the universe has declared that the words coming from the mouth of a backbiter gives off a foul smell. As it is exhalation of hate, grudge, jealousy and so many other sins. A backbiter spreads infection of hatred and his presence makes the surroundings smell bad. We should refrain from this terrible act and try to stop others from backbiting as well. May Allah Ta'ala enable us to keep ourselves away from backbiting. Aameen.

Why is the Foul Smell of Backbiting Not Noticeable Any More?

Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah radiallaho ta'ala anhu narrates that during the life time of Rasool Allah salallaho alaihe wasallam, the people used to do less backbiting, and the foul smell of a backbiter was recognisable. But now, it has become such a common sin that people have become used to it and can tolerate its foul smell. For example the person who dyes leather has a very strong repulsive smell in his house. If some one comes from outside, this smell is intolerable for him, but the leather painter and his family get used to it and sleep, eat and live in the same place. The same is the case with the smell of backbiting these days.(Makashifat Ul Quloob).

Allah o Akbar! My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees, you will hardly find any function or social gathering where people are not backbiting because we have gone astray and have deviated from the path of Sunnah. The hearts are hardened and are void of the fear of Allah Ta'ala. We are facing spiritual famine which has snatched our sense of differentiating between vice and virtue. May Allah Ta'ala open our eyes and may He enable us to keep ourselves away from all sins, such as backbiting. Aameen.

Pungent Vomit of Pus and Blood

Hazrat Anas radiallaloho ta'ala anhu narrates that one day Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam ordered that no one should open their fast without the permission of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam. In the evening, the people started coming and they asked permission of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam before opening their fast. Later, one man came and asked that two women of his house wanted permission to open their fast. After listening to his request, Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam turned his blessed face away.

The person inquired why Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam had turned his face away? The person again requested permission for the two women to open their fast. Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "How can a person be keeping fast who had spent his whole day in eating the flesh of people, you should go back and tell them if they are fasting, they should induce vomit." The person went home and told those two women to induce vomit, they did so and both of them vomited clotted blood. That person came back to Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam and told him what had happened. The Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "If that would have remained in their stomachs, they would have been burnt in fire."

According to another narration, it is said that when Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam turned his face away, the person left and came again soon after and said that both of them were about to die. Then Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam told the man to bring both of them to him. When they came, Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam arranged a bowl and told both of them to vomit in that, both of them vomited pus, blood and meat. Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "Both of them closed their fast with things made Halal (lawful) by Allah Ta'ala and opened their fast with things made Haram (unlawful), they both sat by one another and kept on eating the flesh of people (did backbiting)."(Makaashifat ul Qaloob)
Allah o Akbar! My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam belove

d devotees! The ugly reality of backbiting has been vividly presented in front of you. The two women, who did not eat anything, vomited pus, blood and flesh. It means, it is a reality that those who back bite, they are eating the flesh of the people. If we love Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam, we should prove ourselves true followers and we should keep ourselves away from deadly sins such as backbiting. May Allah keep all of us on the right path. Aameen.

Meat of a Dead Donkey

Hazrat Abu Hurairah radiallaho ta'ala anhu narrates that when Hazrat Ma'izz Aslami radiallalaho ta'ala anhu was being beaten to death with stones, two men started chatting. One of them said, "See! How Allah Ta'ala gave him respect and hid his sins but his desire did not spare him and he is beaten to death with stones like a dog." Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam heard their conversation and kept on walking quietly. There was a dead donkey lying on the road with scattered legs. Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said to them, "Go and eat flesh of this dead donkey." They said, how can the flesh of a dead donkey be eaten?" Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "You insulted your brother which is worse than eating the flesh of a dead donkey, By Allah! In whose custody my life is, he (Ma'izz Aslami radiallaho ta'ala anhu) is taking a bath in the rivers of Paradise." (Abu Daud)

My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Hazrat Ma'izz radiallaho ta'ala anhu was given the chance by Allah Ta'ala to ask for forgiveness and he chose punishment in this world and Allah Ta'ala saved him from the punishment in the world hereafter. And those who were criticising him were warned by Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam for their act of backbiting and the example of dead donkey clarifies how disgusting the act of backbiting is. We must watch our words and must not hurt any one with our tongue and should not consider any one lower or inferior than ourselves. May Allah Ta'ala save us from sins. Aameen

Explanation of backbiting

Every thing that is said about a person in his absence, if he were to hear it and dislike it, is backbiting according to Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam. Hazrat Aisha radiallaho ta'ala anha narrates that once she mentioned that Hazrat Safia radiallaho ta'ala anha is short in height. Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "The sentence you have uttered, if it is dropped in an ocean, it will dominate it." (Imam Ahmed, Tirmzi, Abu Daud)

This means that even saying something like that is backbiting, and that backbiting is so polluting that if it is put into an ocean, it pollutes the ocean. If a person is short in height and if we call him dwarf, midget, short etc. or something similar then this is also a sin. And pointing out defects of handicapped people is also backbiting. We must not hurt our Muslim brothers in any situation or event. (Books of Fiqh)

My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! We will be severely punished in this world and the world hereafter if we do not reform our conduct and character according to the Qur'an and Sunnah. May Allah keep all of us on the right path. Ameen

Backbiting of the Body

This is if we point out someone's physical features, such as black as smoke or having eyes like a cat or very tall like a giraffe etc.

Backbiting of Conduct

This is if a person slanders the character of a Muslim brother. That means if he says that he is proud, big mouthed, stupid etc.

Backbiting of Dress
This is if we criticise some one's dress code or choice of dress that if they would hear us, it would upset them.

Whose Backbiting is Permissible?

Tibrani has narrated through Mua'awiya bin Haida radiallaho ta'ala anhu that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "Pointing out the faults of a transgressor is not backbiting." (Kanzul Aa'maal)

Similarly, a wronged person complaining about a cruel person in front of the King for help and justice is not backbiting. Pointing out the faults of a person in front of a Mufti (Religious Scholar) for clarifications and edicts (Fatwa) is not backbiting. Imaginary names such as Amar or Zaid can be used or real names can be mentioned. Once Hinda complained against Hazrat Abu Sufiyan radiallaho ta'ala anhu for not giving her sufficient money for grocery for her family. She asked if she could take according to her requirement without telling Hazrat Abu Sufiyan radiallaho ta'ala anhu. Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam replied, "You can take what you need to be enough for you and your children." (Rad ul Mukhtaar, Bahar E Shariat)

Similarly! Exposing those that cause trouble and dissension (Fitna) for the safety of Muslims is not backbiting. Exposing those that are openly disobeying Islamic Law, such as robbers, bandits, dishonest people, adulterer's etc is not backbiting. If these people are exposed for the benefit of the society then this is not backbiting.

Compensation of backbiting

Baihiqi writes in Dawat e Kabeer, that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "The compensation of backbiting is that one should say, "May Allah forgive him and me'.
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! If we have done backbiting of some one unintentionally, we can ask for forgiveness for him and for ourselves. May Allah accept our prayers for forgiveness. Aameen

Lesson of Hazrat Sa'adi rehmatullahe ta'ala alaihe

Hazrat Sheikh Sa'adi Shirazi writes in his famous book "Gulistan" that in his child hood he developed a love for worship and used to offer prayers during the night. One night, he was praying with his father and other people in the house were enjoying sleep. He said to his father, "Why don't these people wake up and offer two rak'ats nafil prayer instead of laying there like dead people?" His father said, "My son, it would have been better for you to sleep all night than this worship that you are doing, because you are involving yourself in backbiting.
Moral: "The humorist sees himself with his own eyes and thinks very highly of himself , open the door of the heart and you will find yourself lowest of all."

My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! We see that even great scholars never hesitate to introspect and correct themselves and ask for forgiveness from Allah Ta'ala, but nowadays! We see a majority of people who boast about their worship and consider others low for not worshipping as they do. Actually they do not inspire others for worship, rather they offend others and send them away from worship due to their arrogance. Such people appreciate themselves and keep on depreciating others and their apparent piety fails to spread dignity at all. You know, such attitude shows that we are caught by the paws of desires and do not think about any others but ourselves. May Allah save us from the crippling cage of desires. Aameen.

Easy way to stay away from backbiting

Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhadith Dehlvi alaihir rahmah writes that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, " When ever you sit in a gathering, recite, "Bismilla Hir Rehman Nirraheem Wa Sallalaho Ala Muhammad," Allah Ta'ala will appoint an angel upon you that will keep you away from backbiting. When you leave the gathering, recite, 'Bismilla Hir Rehman Nirraheem Wa Sallalaho Ala Muhammad', Allah Ta'ala will keep people away from backbiting you." (Jazbul Quloob ala Dayarul Mehboob)

My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Memorise the above mentioned words and tell other Muslims to do the same. May Allah keep all of us on right path. Aameen