In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"
Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with
Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah
guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one
can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness
that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
Major Sins # 49
Gossip and Backbiting
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained the meaning
of this aayah.
He said:"Do you know what gheebah (gossip or backbiting) is?"
They said, "Allaah and His Messenger know best."
He said: "To say something about your brother that he does not want to be
said."
He was asked, "What do you think if what is said about him is true?"
He said, "If what you say about him is true, this is backbiting, and if what
you say about him is not true, this is a lie."
(Reported by Muslim, 4/2001)..
Gossip or backbiting means saying something about a Muslim which may be true
but which he does not like to hear spoken, whether it be about his physical
appearance, his adherence to religion, his worldly affairs, his self, his
behaviour or his character.
There are many forms of gossip, including talking about a persons faults and
imitating him to make fun of him.
People take the matter of gheebah very lightly, although it is very serious in
the sight of Allaah, as is indicated by the words of the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him):
"There are seventy-two forms of riba, the least of which is as bad as a man
having intercourse with his own mother, and the worst of which is when a man
slanders the honour of his brother."
(Silsilah al-Saheeh, 1871).
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) encouraged us to do this when he
said:
"Whoever defends the honour of his Muslim brother, Allaah will protect his face
from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection."
(Reported by Ahmad, 6/450; see also Saheeh al-Jaami', 6238).
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