And why did you not, when you
heard it, say? "It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to God, this is a
most serious slander" (Quran 24:16)
A commentary on one of the most
destructive of major sins
Islam is a religion of peace, love and
compassion. Lies, suspicion, back biting, slander and gossip are totally alien
to Islam. In fact they are considered amongst the most destructive of major
sins. This is so because these sins sow enmity and discord among the Muslim
Ummah and lead to its destruction. They cause hostilities between people of the
same household, and between neighbors, friends and relatives.
Islam demands that our relationship with
mankind should be one of sincerity and responsibility. It should be one where we
have respect for the honor, reputation and privacy of others. Islam teaches us
that we are not only held accountable for our own attitudes and actions but
also for anything else over which we have control or influence over, in our
society or the world around us.
Verses:
Let's see what the Quran states about backbiting and slander - This
is the Book, in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear God. (2:2)
God has forbidden the believers from backbiting
O you who believe! Avoid
much suspicion, in deeds some suspicions are sins. And spy not 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 God, verily, God is the one who
accepts repentance, Most Merciful. (49: 12)
When we reflect deeply over this assimilation
it should be enough to keep us away from backbiting!
Do not treat the issue of Backbiting &
Slander with indifference because it is a great sin
Behold, you received it on your tongues, and said out of your mouths things
which you had no knowledge; and you thought it to be a light matter, while it
was most serious in the sight of God (24: 15)
Many of us back bite and gossip without
thinking. We think it is minor matter, however God reminds us to be careful and
even though we think we are doing something little it is in fact very big in the
sight of God!
God teaches us to speak out against Slander and
try to put a stop to it
And why did you not, when
you heard it, say? "It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to God, this
is a most serious slander" (24:16)
Many people are so busy spreading the slander
they hear that they do not even stop to think if it is true or not.
Shaitan (Satan) wants us to use our
tongue to create conflict and hatred
Say to My servants that
they should only say those things that are best, for Satan does sow dissensions
among them, for Satan is to man an avowed enemy. (17:53)
Are we falling into Shaitan's (Satan's) trap?
We can all analyze ourselves.
Hadiths:
Let's see what Prophet Muhammad
said
about Backbiting in the hadiths. God states in the Quran -
You have indeed in the Messenger of God an excellent
pattern of conduct. (33:21)
The definition of Backbiting & Slander
Prophet Muhammad
said
:"Do you know what backbiting is?" They said, "God and His Messenger know
best." He then said, "It is to say something about your brother that he would
dislike." Someone asked him, "But what if what I say is true?" The Messenger of
God
said,
"If what you say about him is true, you are backbiting him, but if it is not
true then you have slandered him." (Muslim)
We should guard our tongue from sins and use
our limbs in acts of obedience
Prophet Muhammad
said
: "Who protects his tongue from unlawful utterances and his private parts
from illegal sexual intercourse, I shall guarantee him entrance into Paradise."
(Bukhari and Muslim)
The definition of the best muslim
"I asked the Messenger of God
:
Who is the best Muslim? The Messenger of God
replied, "He is the one from whom Muslims are safe from the evil of his tongue
and hands." (Muslim)
Deriding people in their presence by making
negative facial expressions or by hand gestures while they are unaware is also a
form of backbiting.
We need to beware of the slipping of our
tongues
"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-Tirmidhee)
Summary
Backbiting and slander is so widespread that it
has become the topic of people’s meetings and an avenue for expressing their
anger, misgivings and jealousy. Those who indulge in backbiting are oblivious of
the fact that they are only harming themselves. This is because of the fact that
on the Day of Resurrection both the wrongdoer and the wronged will stand before
God, Who is the Just Judge, God will then give this wronged person from the good
deeds of the person who wronged him in accordance with his wrong by backbiting.
Some situations allow us to inform others of
what someone has done. It is allowed for us to inform the authorities when
someone does injustice to us or others. It is allowed for us to inform someone
who can help a perpetrator from committing further vice. It is also permissible
for us to tell whoever seeks our advice on a person for business dealings or
marriage. In this case it is not allowed for us to hide what we know about the
person so that the enquirer will not be deceived. All these types of speaking
about others are lawful.
Islam teaches us that if people are being
ridiculed or backbited in our presence, we should defend their honor. If we
neglect this, we shall deprive ourselves of ever needed help and mercy from God
- If a man's Muslim brother is slandered in his presence, and he is capable
of defending him and does so, God will defend him in this world and in the next.
But if he fails to defend him, God will destroy him in this world and the next.
(Baghawi). What will we do the next time we are tempted to backbite or hear
slander in our presence? Right now the choice is ours!
We ask God the Most High, the All Powerful, to
teach us that which will benefit us, and to benefit us by that which we learn.
May God grant blessings and peace to our Prophet Muhammad
and
his family and companions.
=
Peace and Blessings of God be upon him.
Source:
Friday News
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