Module 5 – Circle 3

Backbiting

What is backbiting?

The Prophet pbuh defined backbiting when he said:  "Do you know what is meant by backbiting?" They said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "To say something about your brother which he dislikes." One asked, "Even if what I say is true about my brother?" He replied, "If such defects you say are true about him, then you have backbitten him, and if he doesn't have what you say, then you have committed slander against him." (Muslim, Abu Dawood, and Tirmidhi)  

Module 5 – Circle 3

Module 5 – Circle 3

What kind of things are considered as backbiting? •With reference to a person's body•In regards to his/her family•In regards to manners and conduct•In regards to his deeds associated with religion•In regards to his deeds associated with daily living•Regarding someone's clothing

Is backbiting a major sin?

Ibn ‘Abbaas (ra) said: The Prophet pbuh passed by one of the gardens of Madina or Makkah, and he heard the sound of two persons being punished in their graves. The Prophet pbuh said: “They are being punished, but they are not being punished for anything that was difficult to avoid.” Then he said, “No. One of them did not used to protect himself from his urine, and the other used to walk around spreading malicious gossip.” Then he called for a palm leaf, which he split in two and put one piece on each grave. It was said to him, “O Messenger of Allah, why did you do that?’ He said, “May their punishment be reduced so long as this does not dry out (or until this dries out).” (Bukhari & Muslim)

Module 5 – Circle 3

Module 5 – Circle 3

Would you like to eat the flesh of your own brother?

“Neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful” [al-Hujuraat 49:12] 

Module 5 – Circle 3

Which organ of the body should we be most worried about?

"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-Tirmidhi)

Module 5 – Circle 3

How can your words plunge you into the depths of the hellfire?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A man might speak a word without thinking about its implications, but because of it, he will plunge into the Hellfire further than the distance between the east and west.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Module 5 – Circle 3

How can the tongue help us enter heaven?

Once Mu`âdh b. Jabal (ra), asked the Prophet pbuh to inform him of some good work that would admit him into Paradise and distance him from the Hellfire. The Prophet pbuh mentioned to him the virtues of many good deeds, then said: “Shall I inform you of the foundation of all of that?” Mu`âdh said: “Certainly.” The Prophet pbuh took hold of his own tongue and said: “Restrain yourself from this.” Mu`âdh then asked: “O Prophet of Allah! Are we held to task for the things that we say?” The Prophet pbuh replied: “May your mother be bereaved of you, O Mu`âdh! Does anything topple people headlong into the Hellfire save the harvests of their tongues?” [Tirmidhî and Ibn Mâjah]

Module 5 – Circle 3

How does Allah punish the ones who backbite?

Anas narrated that the Messenger pbuh said, “When I was ascended to heaven (journey of me’raj), I passed by a people who had copper nails with which they scratched their faces and chests, and I said, ‘O Jibreel, who are these?’ He said, ‘These are those who used to eat other people’s flesh and attack their honour.’” (Abu Dawud)

Module 5 – Circle 3

Is speaking the only way to commit backbiting?

The Prophet pbuh vigorously opposed all aspects of backbiting even when it occurred in his own family. For example, once a woman visited Hadrat Aishah (ra) and when the woman got up to leave, Hadrat Aishah (ra) made a gesture with her hand indicating to the Prophet (SAS) that the woman was short of stature. The Prophet pbuh immediately chastised her, saying, "You have backbitten!" (Tirmidhi)

Module 5 – Circle 3

How much did the prophet (pbuh) dislike backbiting?

Two Companions once criticized a man who had been punished for committing adultery. The Prophet pbuh was travelling and he passed by the carcass of a donkey. He said: “Where are those two people? Get down and eat from the flesh of this donkey!”They said: “O Prophet of Allah! Who would eat this?”He said: “What the two of you have recently done by defaming the honour of your brother is far worse than eating from this.” [Abu Dâwûd]

Module 5 – Circle 3

Can backbiting be allowed in Islam in some circumstances?

•Complaint because of an injustice•Seeking a Fatwa•Identifying a person

Module 5 – Circle 3

Why do people backbite?

•Lack of fear of Allah•Joining a group of friends•Seeking to raise one’s own status by putting down others•Envy and jealousy•In anger

Module 5 – Circle 3

How can you rectify the situation if you have committed backbiting?

•Firstly, we must make Tawbah•If the Gheebah has reached the person, then forgiveness must be sought from him •But if the Gheebah didn't reach the person, then he should pray for the person's forgiveness

Module 5 – Circle 3

What are the virtues of opposing backbiting? 

Asmaa' Bint Yazeed said that Allah's Messenger pbuh said:  "Whoever defends the honour of his brother in his absence, will be entitled to Allah's protection from the Fire." (Ahmad)

Module 5 – Circle 3

Who was the best of examples and how did he speak to people?

Narrated by Abu hurairah (ra): The Messenger of Allah pbuh said: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last day, let him either speak good or stay silent” (Muslim and Bukhari)

Module 5 – Circle 3

What is the best thing to do if you see a fault in a fellow brother and need to say something about it to somebody?

“On the authority of Abu Ruqayyah Tameem ibn Aus (ra) the Prophet pbuh said, ‘The religion is naseehah (advice).’ The people said, ‘To whom?’ The Prophet pbuh replied, ‘To Allah and His Book and to His Messenger and to the Leaders of the Muslims and to the common folk of the Muslims.’” (Muslim)