By: Ahmed Abdulla
It is no secret that people love gossip. What is quite shocking is how often we engage in gossip or backbiting and are not even aware of the dangers that lie in it. In Islam the ruling regarding the topic of backbiting is clear. It is considered a grave sin.
Back biting in Islam haram
What Is Considered Backbiting In Islam?
To attack the character or reputation of a person who is not present (backbiting).
Speaking false information or lies about a person who is not present (slandering).
As Muslims it is our responsibility to guard our tongues and to avoid things which are forbidden. The instructions from the Qur’an and hadith are clear regarding the stance on backbiting and slandering. We will explore those in a minute. But first we’ll explore real consequences of just how bad things can get.
We live in a digital age where information spreads rapidly.
With the right message to the right people, things can go viral and false information becomes the “truth” for many. This is the unfortunate happenings which occurred in an Indian village where WhatsAppp messages led to actual mob lynches. To prevent spreading and subsequent lynchings of strangers Facebook began limiting the number of times a message could be forwarded (read about that story here).
We must be more cautious in not only spreading false information but consuming it. Just because it is in written form doesn’t make it any more true. We must become students, not followers.
Read and assess, don’t just read and follow. This goes for the information on this site your reading right now. I will preface this by saying, we do have a high standard to be accurate, but if any of our conclusions are wrong we encourage readers to comment or email us.
QURAN VERSES ABOUT BACKBITING:
Here are three verses in the Qur’an which gives us a clear understanding of this evil.
quran verse about backbiting and slandering “Woe to every persistent slanderer, persistent defamer” (Al Humazah Ayah 1)
Quran verse about slandering
“Those who love (to see) scandal published broadcast among the Believers, will have a grievous Penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: Allah knows, and ye know not.”(Nur Ayah 19)
“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.” (Al Hujurat Ayah 12)
Backbiting According To Hadith:
In the hadith of Abu Dawud 4874, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was asked a question about Ghibah (backbiting). Someone came to him and said what if what I say about my brother is in fact truth?
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) replied, if are right, you have slandered him, and if what you say of him is not true, you have reviled him.
Abu Dharr reported Allah’s Messenger (SAW) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: My servants, I have made oppression unlawful for Me and unlawful for you, so do not commit oppression against one another.
In another hadith, upon passing a grave the Prophet (SAW) said the person of this grave is being punished for committing a major sin. He went on to say, that the person was being punished for making false and defamatory statements and made friends into enemies.
What is Bankruptcy?
We may think it is having no cash, or owing more money to debtors or creditors than that which we have in our own accounts. No, this is not real bankruptcy.
In the hadith Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says the one who is bankrupt is the one whom on the day of resurrection has exhausted all his good deeds. Not because he did not pray or donate to charity but because he “reviled others, brought calumny (false testimony) against others, unlawfully devoured the wealth of others, shed the blood of others and beat others”.
Tip To Avoid Backbiting:
I am confident you will think twice about backbiting after reading this. Backbiting in the moment may provide you temporary relief, but know the only person you harm is yourself. In the hadith, it says the punishment for backbiting is that Allah will take away from your account of good deeds and give it to the one you hurt as an act of compensation.
Just think about that… the person is gaining from your inability to control your emotions. You are not only giving them your time, focus and attention you are also losing your good deeds and added to theirs. What do you really have to gain from this? You may consider the only person you want to backbite on this earth is your own fathers or mothers. ?
On the flip side…
If you are a victim of backbiting take comfort in knowing that they are only helping you on the day of judgement. Of course protect your character if you feel it is threatened but do so with integrity. Do not fall victim by engaging in the same game. We must show discipline and emotional fortitude and overcome such petty altercations.
Allah Knows best.
May he reward us for being among the ones who take a moral high ground.
Source: myislam.org
Monday, April 20, 2026
