Pearls of Prophet (Backbiting)

The scholars agreed that it is haraam to talk behind a person’s back for no legitimate purpose. Most of them stated that this is a major sin and that it varies in degree, some kinds being worse than others. The one who backbites about a scholar is not like one who backbites about an ignorant person. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“… 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 Allaah. Verily, Allaah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful”

[al-Hujuraat 49:12]

Gheebah (backbiting, gossip) means that a person mentions the faults of his Muslim brother in his absence, which he would not like if he heard about it, when there is no need to mention them. 

Gheebah (backbiting, gossip) means that you mention something about your Muslim brother which he does not like, such as his faults. This is haraam, no matter by what means it happens or whatever form it takes. It is haraam according to the consensus of the Muslim scholars. Criticizing people, if the aim is to expose their faults, is gheebah and is among the “evil uttered in public” that Allaah does not like [cf. Al-Nisaa’ 4:148].

When I say “mentions the faults of his brother”, this excludes cases when the other person says something to praise or commend him. 

if someone makes mistakes, her sister/brother, inbox her/him for advises and corrections and not to talk about her/him and make funny things out of that. Beware this is Gheebah !!! 

In Saheeh Muslim it is narrated from al-‘Alaa’ ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan from his father from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do you know what gheebah is?” They said, “Allaah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “That you say something about your brother that he dislikes.” He was asked, “What if what I say about my brother is true?” He said, “If what you say is true then you have gossiped about him, and if it is not true then you have slandered him.”

Abu Dawood narrated in his Sunan via Nawfal ibn Masaahiq from Sa’eed ibn Zayd that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The most prevalent kind of usury (riba) is going to lengths in talking unjustly against a Muslim’s honour.” 

And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Your blood, your wealth and your honour are sacred among you, as sacred as this day of yours in this month of yours in this land of yours. Let those who are present convey it to those who are absent; perhaps he will convey it to one who has more understanding than he does.”

(Agreed upon, from the hadeeth of Abu Bakrah). 

One of the worse types of gheebah and one which is most emphatically forbidden it to look down upon a Muslim and do one’s utmost to insult him, show disrespect towards him and cast aspersions upon his honour. This is a blameworthy characteristic and a serious malady; it is one of the major sins and the one who does this is subject to the warning and a severe punishment.

Shaykh Sulaymaan ibn Naasir al-‘Alwaani/IslamQa.Com

If it is an unpleasant story and there information that could identify the people involved, then it is not backbiting; but if it will provoke trouble or lead to bad consequences, then mentioning it is haraam for that reason, even if it is not backbiting. 

Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas :

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Razaaq ‘Afeefi, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan.

Gossip is a major sin, and undoubtedly all Muslims know this, and they know the punishment that Allaah will inflict on the one who gossips. The seriousness of this sin is due to two reasons: 

1-    It has to do with people’s rights, so it is more serious because it involves wrongdoing against people. 

2-    It is an easy sin that most people commit, except those on whom Allaah has mercy. People usually regard easy things as insignificant although they are serious before Allaah. 

With regard to expiation for gossiping, it is essential to note a few important points: 

Firstly: In a number of fatwas on our site we have pointed out that expiation for gossip includes praying for forgiveness for the one you gossiped about, and making du’aa’ for him, and praising him in his absence. We hope that the reader will look at these fatwas and read the words of the scholars.

Secondly: Stating that praying for forgiveness is the expiation for gossip does not mean that it is sufficient. The basic principle is that sins cannot be erased except by sincere repentance which is accompanied by giving up the sin, regretting it, resolving not to go back to it and being sincere at heart in one’s dealings with the Creator, may He be glorified. Then there is the hope if one repents in this manner, Allaah will forgive him his sins and pardon his errors.

With regard to people’s rights and transgressions against people, they can only be expiated if the people affected pardon him and forgive him. The evidence for that is in the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who said: “Whoever has wronged his brother with regard to his honour or something, let him ask him for forgiveness before the time when there will be neither dinar nor dirham, and if he has any good deeds it will be taken from him in proportion to the wrong he did, and if he does not have any good deeds (hasanaat), some of the other person's evil deeds (sayi’aat) will be taken and given to him to bear.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2449). 

Because the scholars among the righteous salaf and fuqaha’ thought that seeking people’s forgiveness for gossip might lead – in some cases – to greater evils such as grudges or breaking of ties, and people might feel resentment and grudges to an extent that is known only to Allaah, most of the scholars granted concessions allowing one not to seek forgiveness (from the victim), and they hoped that it would be sufficient to pray for forgiveness for the victim of gossip and say du’aa’ for him and praise him in his absence.

Then after all that, does the questioner think that praying for forgiveness in general terms – “O Allaah, forgive the believing men and women” – is sufficient to expiate for the sin of gossiping?! 

We say that when we hope that Allaah will accept du’aa’ and prayers for forgiveness as an expiation for bad deeds, it is essential to be sincere towards Allaah in this du’aa’, to seek out means of drawing close to Allaah, and to repeat it in times and places where du’aa’s are answered, and pray for all goodness and blessing in this world and in the Hereafter. Undoubtedly such a du’aa’ requires us to specify the person for whom we are praying, either mentioning him by name or describing him, by saying: O Allaah, forgive me and the one whom I have gossiped about and wronged; O Allaah, pardon us and him, and whatever else you can say in your du’aa’. 

As for praying in general terms, it does not seem to be sufficient to achieve what you are hoping for from Allaah. Just as you gossiped about him by mentioning his name or describing him, and you singled him out for harm, so too you should pray specifically for him and ask for forgiveness for him, so that the bad deeds will be replaced by good.

And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.