B A C K B I T I N G- EXPOSING THE DEFECTS OF A BROTHER-in-FAITH WHICH ALLAH (S.T.) HAS COVERED

Feb 24, '13 10:13 AM for everyone

 Allah (s.w.t.) ha created no one (except for the Prophets and the Imams) free of sin, and people generally live behind the veil that Allah (s.w.t.) has, through His far reaching wisdom, drawn over their acts.  If this divine veil were lifted  to expose all our faults and errors, everyone would flee each other in loathing and society would crumble to its foundations. 

This is why Allah  has forbidden Backbiting, so that we should be protected from talk behind our backs, and so that our outward lives should appear beautiful, and this outward beauty should penetrate our inward ugliness.

One of the curses which deals a serious blow to social relations and has been strongly opposed in Islam is BACKBITING.

Backbitting actually means saying something against someone behind his back that he would not like it.  It is one of the major sins.  It is a sign of weakness and cowardice.  The one who backbites is weak because he cannot see the progress and prestige of others, hence he tries to defame him.

Immam Musa Kazim (a.s.) said : The mention of anything evil about anyone among the people who did not know it is backbiting.

Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) said:" exposing the defects of a brother-in-faith which Allah has covered is backbiting

Allah says: "O you believe  ! avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases, is a sin, and do not spy or let some of you backbite others.  Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother ?". (49:12)

Once some companions sent Salman-e-Farsi (r.a.) to get some food.  The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s) sent Salman to Usama bin Zaid who looked after the kitchen of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and Usama begged to be pardoned for there was nothing in Kitchen.  When Salman returned without any thing the companions said that Usama was a wise and Salman was also the same. 

 When after that those companions appearing before him, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: " What is the matter, I see some particles of flesh in your teeth ?" They said they had not any animal food.  The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: It is the flesh of Salman and Usama"  This verse (49:12) was revealed.

In Surah al-Noor Alalh says : " Surely (as for) those who love that scandal should circulate respecting those who believe, they shall have a grievous chastisement in this world and the hereafter."  (24:19) . 

This is a seperate important instruction by itself that no attempt should be made to spread even the news of evil or crime which would result in minimising the gravity of crime in the eyes of the people.  He who gives publicity to the evils of others, is equal to himself having committed those evils.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: "Abstain from backbiting for it is worse than adultery (zina) for after committing adultery, if one seeks Allah's pardon, He grants it, but the forgiveness for backbiting is not granteduntil the one who is backbitted forgives him.

In surah al-Qalam, Allah says" And yield no to any mean swearer, defamers, going about with slander " (68:10-11)

This verse, in general, teaches us not pay attention to a type of mean and lowly people who always engage in defaming and exposing faults of othrs, even to the extent of slandering- fabricating defects against others.

Slander is ranked as more reprehensible than backbiting

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: " O you people who have expressed belief with your tongues but whose hearts are unwareof it ! Do not open your mouths to slander the Muslims and do not seek to discover their faults because when a person peeps at the faults of his brother-faith, Allah tears his veil, divulges his faults and disgrace him."

Difference between backbitting and Slander (Bohtan)

Worse than backbiting is slander, which means false accusation and fabricated faults against others.  Backbiting is exposing the true defects of others behind their back. 

Some persons pry into the private affairs and secret matters of others.  This a sort of inferiority complex and the person concerned resorts to divulging the defects of others so that he may creat peace within himself. 

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: " Any get-together which flourishes and becomes lively with backbiting and saying bad things will be desolate from the view-point of religion.  O Muslims !  Keep your ears away from hearing because one who says bad things about others and one who hears it are partners in sin "

" Whoever moves from his place for the purpose of backbitting of his brother-in-faith for exposing his defects then beware that he has put his first step in the Hell. 

Imam Ali (a.s.) "Whoever is inquisitive about the defects of the people should commence this taks with himself"

"Refrain from associating with the fault-finders, because their freinds too, cannot remain safe from their harm.

Allah said: " Woe unto every slanderer defamer !

Repentance and expiation for backbiting

Since backbiting is a major sin so if one is indulged into it he should instantly be repentant because he had opposed a Divine order and then he should seek for the forgiveness of Allah and should resolve not to repeat this sin, and if possible he should praise the backbitten in the same manner in which he had backbitted and should also beg for his pardon.

Immam Ja'far as-Sadiq said: "Backbiting of a Muslim is equal to infidelity and its listening and being pleased with it is polytheism

There are certain occasions when the Jurists (Fuqha) consider backbitting permissible:

1.  Backbiting is permissible of a person who is seen committing sins openly such as drinking wine at a open place provided he is not regretful or ashamed in doing so.

2.  If an oppressed complains of the tyranny inflicted by an oppressor then it will not be considered as backbitting.

     As in Quran Allah says: "Allah does not love the public utterance of hurtful speach, unless (it be) by one to who injustice has been done"

3.  Counselling the seeker of an advice.  When a person is willing to know some information about a particular person from a consultant who knows such a defect about him which, if not disclosed, may put the seeker of advice in trouble then there is no harm in disclosing the defects of the particular person.  But if any matter disclosed then it is not permissible to disclose anything.

4.  When a shameful or vile act is seen in someone and if it is certain that by exposing these acts he will discard them there there is no harm in backbitting. But if that person is disgraced or insulted in disclosing his evils then it is not permissible.  In this regard one  should be cautious in observing the conditons of 'Nahi-anil-Munkar".

5.  Backbiting of such a person is permissible who is himself misguided and is indulged in misguiding other Muslims and creating schism and innovation in religion.

6.  Repudiating the saying of such a person who connects himself with a family or lineage, to which he is not belonging, will not be considered as backbiting.

7.  If two persons notice a sin of a person and they chat about it in his absence then it will not be backbiting as there is nothing hidden from the teller and the listener. If it is feared this matter may become famous in this way then it is not permissible to talk about it.

Finally the Hadees to sum up:

"Hazrat Ali (a.s.) said:  "Keep silent and cover up (short-comings of others) so that you remain secured and safe"

"One who covers up (short-comings ) of a Muslim Allah (s.w.t.) would reward him by covering him up in this world and the Hereafter".

"Whoever is inquisitive about the defects of the people, should commence this and do first with his own self"

Let us pray that Allah gives us courage to disown the evil design of Shaitan in backbitting others and May Allah forgive us for our past actions and help us seek the forgivness of the person who is backbitted and May Allah us keep always on the right path and observe all his commands to invite His Divine Blessings and Grace - Ameen