The Evil Of Backbiting, Tale-Carrying And Gibberish Spewing.
Praise be to Allah.
Many of we (Muslims) today loses a lot of our rewards of good deeds because of the way we use our tongue.
The most important part of the body is the heart. The heart is thus the part where all actions stem, whether good or evil. If the heart is good then the actions will be good and if the heart is corrupt then the actions will be bad. The tongue acts accordingly, because. It expresses what is in the heart.
Allah says in the beginning of Soorah al-Mumineen (Interpretation of its meaning), “Indeed successful are the Believers, those who in their prayer have Khushoo’ (fear of Allah) and those who refrain from vain talk.” [Soorah Mumineen : 1-3].
In another verse, Allah says (Interpretation of its meaning): “Not a word is said except that there is a watcher by him ready to record it.” [Soorah Qaf (50):18].
The Messenger of Allah said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or keep silent.”
So before we talk, we should ask ourselves:
1- Will this saying of mine please Allah?
2- Will this saying of mine bring me
closer to Allah?
3- Does this saying earn with it
obedience to Allah?
If yes, then speak, otherwise one should keep quiet.
BACKBITING (Gheebah)
The Messenger of Allah once asked his Companions, “Do you know what is backbiting?” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.”. He (sallaLlāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “To mention about your brother that which he hates.” They said, “If that we say about our brother is true?” He (sallaLlāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “If there is in him what you say about him then that is backbiting, and if you say of him that which is not true then you have slandered him.” [Saheeh al-Muslim (4/6265)]
The Prophet (sallaLlāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) vigorously opposed all aspects of backbiting, even when it appeared in his own family. For example, once a woman visited Aaisha (radiyaLlāhu ‘anha) and when the woman got up to leave, Aaisha made a sign with her hand indicating to the Prophet (sallaLlāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) that the woman was short of stature. The Prophet immediately chastised her, saying “You have backbitten!” and in another narration, “You have said a saying that if mixed with the sea it would change its color.” [Mentioned in Ibn Jareer in Tafseer al-Qur'aan al-Adheem, vol.4, p.328 (30) and Sunan Abu Dawood (3/4857)]
OVERCOMING THE EVIL HABIT BACKBITING
Firstly, as Imaam an-Nawawee (rahimahullaah) said that one should remember the punishment of Allah. And remember that Allah is the Lord of the heavens and the earth.
Secondly, we should reflect on the Qur'anic verse, (Interpretation of its meaning): “Do not backbite each other. Would any of you wish to eat the flesh of your dead brother, no rather you hate it!!” [Soorah Hujarat :12].
Thirdly, fear that your own faults would be revealed, as the Messenger of Allah (sallaLlāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “O you who believe with your tongues, yet eeman has not entered your hearts, Do not backbite the Muslims, nor follow their faults. For he who follows others faults then Allah will declare (disclose) his faults and he whom Allah reveals his faults, then Allah disgraces him in his own house.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (3/4862)]
Fourthly, take the advice of the pious predecessors, among them; Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiyaLlāhu ‘anhu) who said, “Be careful from remembering people for it is an illness and be in the remembrance of Allah for it is a medicine.”
A man came to al-Hasan al-Basri (rahimahuLlāh) and said that, he heard that al-Hassan al-Basri had backbitten him. Upon this he (rahimahuLlāh) said, “Who are you that I may give you my rewards?”
Fifth, and the most important thing to keep in mind is that there is a great reward to refrain from backbiting, as the Messenger of Allah (sallaLlāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Whoever protects the honor of his brother in his absence, Allah will protect his face from the Fire on the Day of Judgment.” [Sunan at-Tirmidhi and and authenticated by Sheikh al-Albani in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhi (2/1575)]
TALE-CARRYING (Nameema)
Allah says in the Qur'aan (Interpretation of its meaning), “Woe to every slanderer and backbiter". [Soorah Humaza: 1].
The Messenger of Allah (sallaLlāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The Gossip-monger will not enter paradise.” [Saheeh al-Bukhari (8/82), Saheeh al-Muslim (1/187)]
EXCEPTIONS TO BACKBITING
There are few exceptions to backbiting, that the scholars have classified, among them.
1- Oppression: If one has been harmed or one’s property has been unlawfully taken away by another, and this person goes to the ruler or judge in order to seek justice, this is not backbiting.
2- Changing the Munkar: If one finds a person involved in evil actions or innovations, and one is unable to correct his disavowed action. It is allowed to seek the help of a more knowledgeable person, even if it mean defining the Munkar of the evil-doer or innovator. This is not backbiting
3- Seeking a Fatwa (religious verdict): For example, there is a dispute between a husband and his wife, and if either of them seek the advice of a religious scholar, then this situation is exempt from backbiting.
4- Warning a Muslim from evil: For example, if a fellow Muslim is going to do a business with a dishonest person or if a Muslim is unaware that the person to whom he is marrying his daughter to, is an unreligious person; then to advice and guide him is exempt from backbiting.
5- Advising against innovators and sinners: If an Innovator is openly involved in spreading his innovative beliefs or a sinner remorselessly declares his sin and is thus being a bad example for others; then, warning others against him is allowed. But if he commits a sin secretly and as such harms just himself, then to openly declare his sins is still strictly prohibited.
Finally;
The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “The most poorest/bankrupt among my Ummah is he/she who would come on the Day of Judgment with rewards for prayers, fasting, and zakah; but he/she had offended one person, backbiting and slandered another, devoured other's wealth, shed the blood of this person, and beat that person. Each one of these people (offended) would be given the rewards of good deeds from the account of the backbiter/slanderer. If his/her good deeds fall short of settling the people, then their sins will be taken from their accounts and offloaded into the backbiters account, and he would be thrown in the Hellfire.” (Muslim)
May Allah grant us safety. And He is the Source of strength.
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