Religion Desk: People acquire virtue for a peaceful life in the hereafter. Virtue does not only benefit in the hereafter. Virtue also affects worldly life. Therefore, there is no alternative to acquiring more and more virtue. However, through some actions, the virtue acquired and accumulated by a person is destroyed. One such action is backbiting or slander. It is a kind of poison hidden in the heart of a person, which destroys the good deeds of a person. People backbite through words, thoughts in their hearts, gestures, gestures, and writing. In the modern era, backbiting is also manifested through the use of Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and print media. Like drinking alcohol, adultery, and interest-bribery, backbiting is also a grave sin. As much as people take precautions about other grave sins, such caution is not seen in the case of backbiting. It is related to the rightful worship. Because of this, although other sins are forgiven through repentance, for backbiting, one has to ask for forgiveness from the person concerned along with repentance. Backbiting tarnishes the honor and dignity of others. However, it is the obligatory duty of every Muslim to protect the honor and dignity of others.
What is meant by backbiting
Backbiting is slander and slander, criticizing or defaming someone in their absence, discussing their faults and shortcomings in their absence, etc. People usually find faults in others in conversations with friends and classmates, make fun of them – all these are included in backbiting. Apart from that, criticizing someone’s physical faults, habits, character traits and clothing is also included in backbiting. It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Do you know what backbiting is?” They say, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, Backbiting is talking about your brother in a way that he dislikes. It was asked, What do you say if what I say is true in my brother? He said, If what you say about him is true in him, then you are backbiting him. And if it is not true in him, then you are slandering him. (Muslim, Hadith: 2589)
What happens if you backbite
Backbiting is a heinous sin and a silent killer. Backbiting destroys a person’s store of goodness without his knowledge. Allah Almighty has compared it to eating the flesh of a dead brother, which is never possible for a sane person. Allah Almighty says, “O you who believe! Avoid excessive suspicion. Indeed, some suspicion is sin. And do not seek out holes and do not backbite one another behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Indeed, you dislike it. Fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is the Most Accepting of repentance, the Most Merciful.’ (Surah: Al-Hujrat, verse: 12)
The terrible consequences of backbiting
Backbiting is a heinous sin. Its consequences are very terrible. It is so heinous that if a word of backbiting is thrown into the sea, the taste and smell of the sea water will change. For example, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said, I once pointed to Safiya (may Allah be pleased with her) and said, “She is a short woman.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “You have backbited her.” In another narration, he said, “You have said a word that if it were mixed into the sea, the color of the sea water would change.” (Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2502). It is very regrettable that backbiting has become a natural behavior of people today. Because of this, people do not hesitate to gossip or criticize others in tea shops, on the street, in gatherings, and even in mosques.
What to do if you hear gossip
Just as gossiping is a great sin, listening to gossip is also a sin. When someone starts gossiping about another person, he must be stopped. If that is not possible, it is obligatory to leave that gathering. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran, ‘And when you see those who are engaged in mocking criticism of Our verses, turn away from them until they engage in other talk. And if Satan makes you forget, then do not sit with the wrongdoing people after the remembrance.’ (Surah: An’am, verse: 68). Listening to bad talk like gossip is against the dignity of a believer. Allah Almighty describes the characteristics of the believers and says, ‘When they hear idle talk, they should ignore it.’ (Surah: Al-Qasas, verse: 55)
The terrible punishment of backbiting
Backbiting is a serious social and religious disease. The Quran and Hadith have warned extensively about the dangers of backbiting. Hazrat Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “On the night of the Ascension, I passed by a people whose nails were made of copper and they were constantly scratching their faces and chests with them. I said, O Jibreel! Who are these?” He said, “These are those who used to eat the flesh of people (backbite) and harm their honor.” (Abu Dawud, Hadith: 4878)
Atonement for backbiting
The first thing to do when backbiting is done intentionally or unintentionally is to repent to Allah. Expiation for backbiting. Expiation for backbiting is to pray for the one who has been backbitten or to ask for forgiveness. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Expiation for backbiting is that the backbiter should pray for forgiveness for the one he has backbitten and say: O Allah! Forgive me and him. (Bayhaqi)
The sins of others are on one’s shoulders
Allah Himself will take revenge for backbiting on the Day of Resurrection. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Who do you say is the needy person?” They said: “The one among us who has neither a dirham nor wealth is the needy person.” He said: “The one among my Ummah who is truly needy on the Day of Resurrection is the one who