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iTunes ChannelThe Top 5 Misconceptions of Backbiting and How To Respond To Them
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Backbiting is one of those Islamic topics that often gets sidelined. Appearing as one of the frequent tarbīyyah topics in common circles and gatherings, the issue may be forgotten or ignored. This is severely problematic, as backbiting is one of the most devastating sins a person can ever commit, and not keeping ourselves reminded about it can lead to grave consequences.
To make it fresh in our minds again, let’s tackle the issue in a practical way. Here are 5 common misconceptions that we ourselves or others you encounter may have about backbiting, what is misunderstood, and how to respond to them.
Misconception #5: I’m not backbiting, I’m just saying.
When people respond with, “I’m just saying,” they’re telling themselves that what they’re mentioning is not something so bad as backbiting, it’s just “saying” things as they are. In other words, they’re trivializing the act, and telling themselves that backbiting isn’t really all that bad.
But backbiting is no walk in the park. It’s one of the most disgusting acts one could ever commit. That’s why Allah subḥāna wa ta’āla asks those who backbite, “Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother (or sister)?”1 God Himself is comparing backbiting to something vilely rancid, so no one is fooled to think it’s not an inhuman act like that of murder or rape. The imagery of you eating the dead carcass of the person you’re talking about really paints a clear picture.
Not only that, Allah is asking us if we would love eating that flesh. It’s as if He is saying not only is backbiting as disgusting as eating that person’s dead flesh, when we backbite, it’s as if we enjoy eating it, too.
Response: Describe to them how disgusting an act backbiting really is.
“You’re not, just saying. You’re going to that person’s body after their janāzah, ripping off their thigh, chewing it up, and enjoying it, too.”
Misconception #4: I’m not backbiting, everyone already knows about this person, anyway.
If a person is mentioning things about someone already known, not only are they still backbiting, they’re following the footsteps of hypocrites. The hypocrites of Medinah spread rumors about ‘Ā’isha, may Allah be pleased with her, and as a result were cursed by Allah to the depths of Hellfire.2
Hellfire, which was intensified by Allah for thousands of years, turning its flame from orange to red to yellow to black3, and burns 70 times worse than Earth’s fire (minimum 210th degree burns?)4. The same Hellfire where those who spread lies about others get hooks pierced into their cheeks and slammed back to rip off their faces, and are given scalding hot puss to drink as relief.
If everyone already knows about it, why spread it and potentially go to the horror that is Hell? And if not the Hellfire, then being punished in the grave with copper nails repeatedly scratching your face and chest off?5 The risk simply isn’t worth it.
Response: Remind them about the punishment of backbiting and how it makes spreading rumors not worth the risk.
“Mentioning what everyone already knows about somebody is a dangerous path to Hellfire. Is spreading the news so important that it’s worth living with black fire that’s 70 times hotter, boiling puss drinks and having your cheeks ripped off your face?”
Misconception #3: I’m not backbiting, I’m warning others about a person’s mistakes.
Human beings have a natural desire to warn others about harm. That’s why when they see something wrong with someone else, they’ll personally identify those characteristics as a problem, make a decision to be careful about it for themselves, and naturally want to notify others about it as well.
But that’s where the problem comes in. We want to naturally talk about someone else’s faults, but if we do, it’s backbiting. How can we get past this natural desire that’s so troublesome?
Simple. First we need to realize which of these natural tendencies is okay and which isn’t. It’s completely okay to be adverse to the faults of others. However, telling others about those mistakes, while naturally easy, is the major sin of the two.
The Prophet sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said backbiting is “talking about your brother in a manner which he does not like.”6 That means saying anything about the person that they wouldn’t want you to counts as backbiting. If you know the person you’re talking about wouldn’t like what you’re saying about them, don’t say it.
If we feel the desire to go out and warn someone about it, do so on the person with the faults in the first place in a kind and sincere manner. Our problem as Muslims is that we talk a lot about people behind their backs but never confront them in person.
Seconldy, on an encouraging note, remember that by not backbiting, we get closer to guaranteed Paradise. The Prophet sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said whoever guarantees control over what is in between their thighs and their jaws, he will guarantee them Paradise.7
This guarantee is awesome in two ways. Not only makes not backbiting easier because of the amazing goal attached to it, it comforts us in the fact that our religion understands. Notice how the Prophet sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam asked for whoever guarantees control, showing that he knows it’s natural to lose control. But at the same time, he’s encouraging us to take that control and work towards Paradise.
Response: Explain to them what backbiting is and the reward of abstaining from it.
“Talking about others negative traits in anyway shape or form is backbiting and none of your business, and if you stay away from it you’re working towards guaranteed admission to Paradise.”
Misconception #2: I’m not backbiting, I’ll tell them later or I don’t care, I can say it to their face.
Some people justify backbiting by thinking if they inform the person later they were talking about them behind their back, it makes the act okay. But telling someone you backbit about them after the fact is a part of the process of repenting and making up for the sin. It has to be done sincerely, with regret and shame for the act, driven by a balanced fear of Allah’s punishment and a hope in His Mercy.
Trying to justify backbiting by telling someone you backbit about them is like trying to justify believing Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, as the son of Allah by saying you will just repent later. Not only is it an imbalance between fearing Allah and having hope He will forgive you, it doesn’t make the act okay to commit in the first place.
What’s worse is when some people claim they, “don’t care” about backbiting and they supposedly can or will say what they backbit about someone to their. Not only is that even more of a misunderstanding than planning to tell them later, it just shows two things. One, they’re just a jerk. It isn’t bad enough that they’re backbiting, but they have to go and act “brave” by claiming they can tell the person the insult to their face.
In addition to being a jerk, they also need to be careful when they say, “I don’t care.” Do they really not care? And what do they not care about? They don’t care about incinerating in that 70 times hotter black fire we mentioned before? And having their cheeks ripped off your face and having to drink searing hot puss afterward? Are they really sure they don’t care? Chances are no.
Response: Backbiting about someone with the intention to tell them later doesn’t make it okay. It’s still backbiting. And claiming you, “don’t care” and can say it to their face shows that you’re a jerk and don’t care about the Hellfire.
Misconception #1: I’m not backbiting, it’s true.
This, by far, is the most common misconception and response we find Muslims making when we warn them about backbiting. They think that backbiting is only when you mention bad things about people that aren’t true. Is that really the case?
Going back to the definition of backbiting, the Prophet sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said backbiting is to mention things about your brother (or sister) which they don’t like. After the Companions heard this definition, one of them asked, “what do you think about if what I say about that person is true?”
“If (that) is actually found (in that person) what you claimed, you, in fact, backbit him. And if that’s not in that person, it’s slander,” the Prophet sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam answered.
This shows that we’ve got it all wrong. Just because what we’re saying is true, doesn’t mean it’s not backbiting. In fact, it proves that we are indeed backbiting, because backbiting is true information. If it wasn’t true, we’d be doing something worse than backbiting, slander.
That makes a whole lot of things count as backbiting. That’s why when ‘Ā’isha said about Ṣafīyya, the wife of the Prophet sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam who was the daughter of a Jewish leader, that, “she’s short,” he got upset and said, “you have said a word that if were to be dropped into the sea it would contaminate it.”8
‘Ā’isha and the Prophet sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam knew about Ṣafīyya’s height. So did everyone else who saw her in Medinah, and all the people from her tribe before she married the Prophet. In other words, what ‘Ā’isha said was as true as it gets. But the fact that it was true made it backbiting. And if something as small as what she said was poison to the entire sea, what about when we talk about how people may be gaining weight, undergoing a divorce, losing their hair, struggling to control their anger, failing to give up a public sin, or anything else they wouldn’t like said about them?
Response: Inform them about truth being backbiting and falsehood being slander.
“Yeah, you’re backbiting, because the Prophet sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam if it’s true, which you’re saying it is, then it’s backbiting.”
Conclusion
Backbiting is no misdemeanor. It’s a federal offense. In fact, it’s more than that. It’s a universal act of ethical treason, the likes of which transcend this world and has severe consequences in the next.
We need to remember that when we signed up to become Muslim, we agreed to follow all of the rules, and one of the rules is that for anyone else who signed up for the contract of Lā ilāh ha illa Allāh, Muḥammmad al-rasūlullāh you can’t ever talk behind their back. Doing so is not only a horrible sin and a disgusting act, it’s one of the worst things you could ever do to your Muslim brother or sister.
While you may be fired up to use the responses to these misconceptions and are trying to think of people you could use them on, ask yourself if the person to respond to is none other than you. Do you have these misconceptions about backbiting? Have you ever made any of these five justifications or something similar to them? If so, give yourself the responses and work on yourself first, and eventually, you can work on correcting others, as well.
1. Qur’ān: Surah Ḥujurāt, chapter 49, verse 12, Sahih International translation
2. Qur’ān: Surah Nūr, chapter 24, verse 11
3. Ḥadīth: Sunan al-Tirmidhī
4. Ḥadīth: Bukharī 3265; Muslim, 2843
5. Ḥadīth: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4875, Book 41, Number 4860
6. Ḥadīth: Muslim, Book 032, Chapter 18, Number 6265, narrated Abū Hurairah
7. Ḥadīth: Bukharī, Volume 8, Book 82, Number 799, narrated Sahl bin Sā‘d
8. Ḥadīth: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2502, Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4875
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Hmm…I coiuld have sworn I’ve heard this before
Alhamadillah nice to see it in written form.
This is a great article, Al-hamdu lillah.
http://idealmuslimah.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=582&Itemid=188
1 – It is reported from al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) that a man said to him: “You have gossiped about me. He (al-Hasan) said: “You have not reached such a position that you can control my Hasanat!” [Translator's Note: The Islamic teaching is that the Hasanat (rewards) of the one who gossips will be awarded to the victim.]
2 – Someone was told: “So-and-so has gossiped about you” – so he sent him a dish of dates, with the message: “I heard that you had given me your Hasanat as a gift, and I want to return the favor; please excuse me for not being able to pay back in full.”
3 – It was reported from Ibn Mubarak (may Allah have mercy on him) that he said: “If I were to gossip about anyone, I would gossip about my parents, for they have more right to my Hasanat.”
Assalamualykum warahemutullah,
Sometimes in Tafsir classes the teacher gives us examples of some muslims doing haraam things .For example how we should focus on deen and try to hold on to rope of Allah swt.If we fail to raise children according to sunnah then tomorrow you have to suffer the consequences. Here comes the example so and so girl had married a non muslim or so and so boy is dating etcetc. I come home and try to share everything I learned to my friends.Am I doing Gheebah? Am I indulging in a haraam activity?
Jazakumallahu Khairaa for an excellent post.
First article worth reading on MM for a long time.
Mashallah, so gracious of you Imtiaz.
MR, that’s frontbiting for you
What about frontbiting?
@ UmmiMaryam
I think the way to get the lessons across without backbiting would be to describe the situation without taking names and specifics so that the person in the story can not be identified. e.g. ” We see xyz happening in our community”, “we have seen clear examples of abc leading to xyz” is vague enough but can get the point across. Allahulam
barak allahu feek for the much needed reminder
more on ^ from Islam q and a
–
If I tell the story of something that happened without mentioning any names, is that regarded as backbiting?.
Praise be to Allaah.
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.
And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. End quote.
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.
Jazkumallahu khairaa br.Iman.
I think that we need to clarify that it is permissible to warn against people that have been extremely DAMAGING to our community. (Some of these people have been mentioned on the blogosphere of late) Should we allow them to continue to take advantage of innocent people year after year as they have done while they hide behind these edits. Yes, backbiting of course is valid, but should a known thief or fornicator be allowed to continue to make fitnah in the community? Wallahi some of these people are extremely dangerous
Good reminder, jazakumAllahu khairun
Another way people tend to justify backbiting is when they are bashing political leaders… I mean its quite evident through their actions what kind of people they are. No need to get angry by venting, and then in fact help them by giving up your own hasanaat, as UmmiFawaz has graciously reminded us.
Khalid Abu Walid wrote that it is permissable to “warn against people who have been extremely damaging to the community.”
Often much backbiting has already occured with respect to such people. How do we harness such destructive forces and redirect them in a good way, particularly when the impact of both the sinner and the backbiters is pervasive and detrimental?
Good Article mashallah!
Q. how can we repent if we have done backbiting? while knowing it was wrong but just in the heat of the moment were unable to control our tongues…and now feeling really guilty for what we said.
Awesome post!
Last weekend in Arees, while discussing the validation of hadeeth (speaking about narrators of hadeeth and their strength or weakness, and why), we reviewed the etiquettes of speaking negatively about someone behind their back, meaning, the exceptions in which backbiting as defined is not backbiting. Here are the six situations we discussed, just to add to the discussion::
Scholars said there are six exceptions for backbiting:
1. Oppression: someone does injustice to you, so when you go to court, you have to take your right back.
2. Identification of someone, not to put him down, but something you wouldn’t normally call someone (eg, not the tall brother, the short one)
3. The one who commits sins openly (the faasiq)
4. Asking for fatwa: wife has question about husband, asks imam for fatwa.
5. Warning the Muslims about a person who can cause them harm (eg marriage purposes, business transactions).
6. Asking help to forbid evil – to get some brothers to help out with enjoining good and forbidding evil towards some individual.
Siraaj
JazakAllahu Khair Br. Siraaj that clarifies…
…the picture makes me want to vomit though
This reason is probably the most abused, at least on the net. Also, then when confronted to stop it, they say, its for “everyone to see”, i.e. we are refuting x, and that x is online, so we are allowed to backbite about the person. I am not sure how you can confirm that even if it is there for everyone to see, the person you are talking about will actually see it? Is
The problem is that it is not refutation that is the issue. If indeed there was a scholarly refutation and discussion against the other’s positions or “heresies”, then that would be one thing. But isn’t it slander when people move beyond refutation to becoming intention-police, manhaj-police, and many times even Iman-police?
I hope some of the people who are involved in this abuse of their brothers on the web, many of whom police MM as their favorite past-time, can come and repeat their justifications for their usage of not-so-beautiful language for their brothers and sisters in these comments. So, perhaps we can understand what gives them the right for the hate. On second thoughts, maybe not!
Also, Sr. Susan brings up a great point. I look forward to seeing some discussion on that.
P.S. Great post by the way. jazakallahkhair
Amad invites frontbiting to MM
bring it on, boys & girls
…
Bismillah
Assalaamualekum wa rehmatullahi wabarkatuhu
Masha’Allah a splendid article…justifying the sin is as bad as committing one….may Allah swt save us from the trapping of our own souls aameen
Excellent reminder brother!Jazakh Allah Khair
is it true that there is a non-muslin cause for backbiting?
Jazakallah Khair for the beneficial post!
Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t another significant point to backbiting that a person who willingly listens to someone else doing gheebah is also commiting a sin?
wassalam
bismillah, was salamu alaykum. i think the picture choice was perfect, and this picture does speak a 1,000 words. imagine the picture a bit larger. it would help, too, if you imagine that the image and your screen were in high enough resolution that you start to wonder if blood/water from the meat would drip onto your keyboard. if you can smell the freshness of the meat, too, so much the better.
now add a caption to frame the picture: “were you about to say something halal, or take a bite from the back of your brother?”
when they are about to speak, right then, people know what they are about to consume. but in the heat of anger (which consumes aql), or in the rush of thought (which consumes care), or simply from not caring (which may be consumed in fire, naudhobillah), people too often speak (or type) carelessly.
it’s the same mentality that pays no attention to what goes into a super-sized meal.
on that note, maybe a different caption: “would you like fries and a coke, too, or just that pound of your brother’s flesh?”
SubhanAllah, I just skimmed http://muslimmatters.org/2009/04/05/veiled-muslim-women-rally-against-alleged-pakistan-taliban-flogging-of-women/
… and i have an idea. Whenever a person wants to submit a comment, we flash the picture of the bloody meat. And we ask the person if they are about to take a bite of someone’s flesh or post something good for them. If they post something good, then the comment gets posted (or moderated, spammed, whatever). Otherwise, we e-mail them the pound of flesh and leave the comment in the trash.
If there were ever a reason not to visit MM, it would be the bloodfest in too many of the threads. Comments so not worth repeating that they should never have been uttered. How do the mods stomach it? Astagfirullah, wa attooboo alayh.
Tariq, moderation is a VERY hard and challenging act. We have tons of discussion sometimes on one or two comments. Do too much, and people scream censorship. Do too little, and people scream bloodfest
We have tended to air on the milder moderation side recently, because sometimes when you let the “wild” commentators have some space, they will eventually undo their reputation and image, which will make other readers start ignoring them. Self-moderation of a sort actually.
I will admit that we are still not quite there in getting it completely right.
I’m just wondering what is that a picture of? ….. a cow’s tongue or a piece of meat shaped like a foot!
the picture says – cannibal meat market foot – hmmmm
saqib – what you been upto recently? during lunch breaks at almaghrb?
SA,
That Saqib is such a loser (lol jk). Love you man, nice post, I will have to read through it sometime. Keep up the good work.
Amad — it was a rhetorical question, akhee.
I like the self betterment articles. Inshallah, hope we have more of them!
Jazakallah khair!
Excellent post. Jazak Allahu Khairan.
Although, listening to gheebah is an equally grave sin, which is something I personally find very hard to avoid with close kin. Getting up to go out of the room or changing the subject when someone starts backbiting is a great way to end it. And when you have little kids, there are many reasons you can just get up and leave…..to tend to the child.
I totally agree that this is a very common problem with majority of the people. We are cowards and liars. May Allah guide us all.
I think the picture choice is great! It really helps us think about the gravity of this sin.
Can we get some clarification on this? I find it contradictory to what Saqib wrote in his post – does this mean that someone who puts pics of themselves on facebook drinking and clubbing with people of the opposite gender can be talked about?
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/105391
this was one explanation I found, expounds on it.
Siraaj
What an awesome post! Insha’allah, it’ll help our fellow brothers/sisters. I’ve been going on and on to my fiance about how he talks about people WAY too much and how its mean. I showed him this video I had seen about backbiting and it helped, but this… this is even better. Thanks! May Allah be pleased with your efforts to help our community.
Great Post. Good read, I pray that I remember all the points you made, will help in Hujurath exam at RSI
How wonderful if these points were discussed in a chewable dose (to our mind and heart) in jummah khutbah at local masjid’s?
Saqib Saab..start with our masjid when you come next time, when?
Now can you write about online copyright issue
still waiting….
Side Note: I wonder what would happen to the jay leno’s, CNN’s, FoxLies and others
Is it called backbiting if ill is spoken about non-muslims too?
good article!
a insightful piece that is so relevant in todays world.
esp in pakistan where the political and religious scene has become so tense everyone is calling everyone names on national tv..
one of the best ways of avoiding back biting is to stay away from discussions which have no agenda.. u know like freinds just sitting until late hours of the night or women just hanging out. all our majlis should have a reason and we should greatly observe the dua’s in the beggining and at the end… there are some very short ones.. bismillah and audhubillah will also be good.
a wise men once said that three things are essential for gaining knowledge and attaining taqwa.
1. moderate eating
2. moderate sleeping
3. avoiding too many meetings with ppl
ws
- Ditto, first article on MM that has been worth reading in a LONG time!
- Excellent job. Such a simple, accurate and focused piece of writing.
mabrook ‘alykum
Ok question…. please some one answer:
If a girl is getting married in an arranged set up and I for example know that the guy/groom is not a good person and will make her life miserable. Lets say I know this cuz the guy works in my company. Would warning the innocent victim about the groom be backbiting? Arent I saving a muslim from a miserable life?
Also I think stating FACTS is ok but if you season them with ur OPINIONS then thats back biting. Stating facts is like reading news…….. like wht the news channels do. they r not backbiting… innit?
“amazed”, one thing that I clearly remember from the countless lectures on marriage that I attended in my life, when it comes to marriage, and informing either of the 2 parties about the faults of the other, then that is not only allowed, but mandatory. This is because of the consequences of hiding information that may be directly pertinent to to the situation. I don’t recall the evidences, but I am positive about this.
wallahualam.
@amazed. Fatima bint Qays was proposed to by both Muawyiah and Abu Jahm, she asked the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam about them, to which he said As for Muawiyah, then he is utterly poor. And as for Abu Jahm, then he does not cease to remove the stick from his shoulder. This is reported in Sahih Muslim, Abu Dawud, and some others.
So from this we see that yes we can tell people who ask about someone in regards to marriage about their character. But look at how the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam responded. He didnt go on a long historical narrative of all the deficiencies of the person and exploit every detail. He simply said Muawiyah is poor (meaning he wont be able to provide for you) and Abu Jaham doesnt put down his stick (meaning he beats his wives). Even though this is an exception, look at how the Prophet still was careful about sticking to the general rule of backbiting, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam.
Similarly, if we find ourselves warning someone about a prospective in marriage, we just say what needs to be said and dont get into the details. Like you said, just the facts, not opinions. And Allah knows best.
SaqibSaab,
Are you sure the reference to Abu Jahm refers to beating his wives? I read another narrative which stated:
““As for Mu`awiyah, he is a poor person and has no wealth (to support you), and as for Abu Jahm, he is a perpetual traveler; so marry Usamah instead!”
I can’t find the source and it wasn’t given where I read it but wanted to make sure this isn’t in fact the same narration and not putting down his stick may imply Abu Jahm travels non stop.
Hopepfully someone more knowledgable can clarify.
Another question I had was in terms of its permisablity, is a person obligated to or even allowed to voluntarily divulge details of a perspective spouses family members? Do we have any authentic narrations regarding this? i.e. don’t marry so and so, his father is a liar or don’t marry so and so, her father is a drunk.
Any help here is appreciated.
SaqibSaab and Amad,
Thanks for your replies. There is a narrow line between backbiting and stating somebody’s bad characteristics. But the like is not invisible
I will definitely be more careful when speaking about others. The article has helped me strengthen my resolve.
JazakAllah and keep up the good work!
jazakum allah khair for the article and comments.