Islam is a religion of peace, love, and compassion. Lies, suspicion, backbiting, slander, and gossip are totally alien to Islam. In fact, they are considered amongst the most destructive of major sins. This is so because these sins sow enmity and discord among the Muslim Ummah and lead to destruction. They cause hostilities between people of the same household and neighbors, friends, and relatives.
Islam demands that our relationship with mankind be one of sincerity and responsibility. It should be one where we respect the honor, reputation, and privacy of others. Islam teaches us that we are not only held accountable for our attitudes and actions, but also for anything over which we have control or influence in our society or the world around us.
many verses in the Quran and hadith from the prophet peace be upon Him warned us about these major sins.
Allah states in the Quran: "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." [ 49:12]
If we were to reflect deeply on this example, it would be enough to keep us away from backbiting!
Allah also says: "When you received it with your tongues and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge and thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allah, tremendous." [24:15]
Many of us backbite and gossip without thinking. We think it is a minor matter, however, Allah reminds us to be careful, for even though we think we are doing something small, it is in fact very large in the sight of Allah!
Allah teaches us how to deal when we hear any rumors about others, He Says: "And why, when you heard it, did you not say: 'It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted are You, [O Allah]; this is a great slander?'" [24:16]
with the spread of social media, Many people are so busy spreading the slander they hear that they do not even stop to consider whether it is true or not.
Allah Says (what means): "And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them. Indeed, Satan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy." [ 17:53]
it is satan who always wants to make enmity between people so we have to be careful about the tricks of Satan.
Let's now compare that to what Prophet Muhammad said about backbiting and Slander:
Prophet Muhammad (may Allah exalt his mention) once asked: "Do you know what backbiting is?" His companions, may Allah be pleased with them, replied: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He then said: "It is to say something about your brother that he would dislike." Someone asked: "But what if what is said is true?" The Messenger of Allah replied: "If what you say about him is true, then you have backbitten him, but if it is not true then you have slandered him." [Muslim]
Prophet Muhammad said: "He who protects his tongue from unlawful utterances and his private parts from illegal sexual intercourse, I shall guarantee him entrance into Paradise." [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
Prophet Muhammad was once asked: "Who is the best Muslim?" He replied: "He is the one from whom Muslims are safe from the evil of his tongue and hands." [Muslim]
Prophet Muhammad said: "When man wakes up in the morning each day, all his body parts warn his tongue saying: ‘Fear Allah with regards to us, for we are under your mercy; if you are upright, we will be upright and if you are crooked, we will be crooked.’"[At-Tirmithi]
Backbiting and slander are so widespread that they have become the topic of people’s meetings and an avenue for expressing their anger, misgivings and jealousy. Those who indulge in backbiting are oblivious of the fact that they are only harming themselves. This is because on the Day of Resurrection, both the wrongdoer and the wronged will stand before Allah, the Just Judge. Allah will then give the wronged person from the good deeds of the person who wronged him by backbiting or other injustices.
Some situations allow us to inform others of what someone has done. We are permitted to inform the authorities when someone does injustice to us or others. We are permitted to inform someone who can prevent a perpetrator from committing further vice. It is also permissible for us to tell whoever seeks our advice about a person for business dealings or marriage. In this case, we are allowed to reveal only as much as necessary about the person so that the enquirer will not feel deceived. All these forms of speaking about others are lawful.
Islam teaches us that if people are being ridiculed or backbitten in our presence, we should defend their honor. If we neglect doing so, we risk depriving ourselves of the ever-needed help and mercy from Allah.
Prophet Muhammad said: "If a man's Muslim brother is slandered in his presence, and he is capable of defending him and does so, Allah will defend him in this world and in the next. But if he fails to defend him, Allah will destroy him in this world and the next." [Al-Baghawi]
