Backbiting

These collection of quran and hadith were presented by my wife for one of our learning sessions.They are very straight forward, explaining backbiting in a way that is easy to understand - hence don't need any explanation from me.

What is backbiting/Gheebah?

Prophet said: Do you know what backbiting is? The companions said: Allah and His Messenger know best. Thereupon he said: Backbiting means talking about your brother in a manner which he does not like. It was said to him: What is your opinion if the fault I mentioned about my brother was true? Rasulullah said: If what you said about him was true, then you have in fact backbitten him, and if that fault found is not to be true, then it is a slander. (Muslim)

Ibn Mas’ud narrated: We were sitting with the Prophet. Then a man got up and left. Whereupon another person spoke ill of him. The prophet told him: Pick your teeth. The man replied: Why? I haven’t eaten any meat. The prophet replied: You have eaten your brother’s flesh. (Al-Tabarani)

Backbiting is condemned!

And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would abhor it and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the one who accepts repentance. (Al-Hujurat: 12)

Woe to every slanderer and backbiter! (Al-Humazah: 1)

Prophet said: When I was taken up to heaven, I passed by people who had nails of copper and were scratching their faces and their chests. I said: Who are these people Jibril? Jibril replied: They are those who used to backbite and violated people’s honour. (Abu Dawud)

Prophet said: O my people, who believe with their tongue, but belief has not entered their heart, do not backbite another Muslim and do not search for their faults, for if anyone searches for their faults, Allah will search for his fault, and if Allah searches for the fault of anyone, He disgraces him in his house. (Abu Dawud)

Prophet said: Do you know who the bankrupt person is? The companions said: A bankrupt man amongst us is one who has neither Dirham with him or wealth. He said: A truly bankrupt person of my ummah would be he who would come on the Day of Resurrection with prayers and fasts and zakah but since he hurled abuse upon others; backbitten and unlawfully consumed the wealths of others; shed the blood of innocent people, hence his good deeds would be given to the account of those (who suffered at his hand). And if his good deeds fall short, then their sins would be given to his account and he would be thrown in the Hellfire. (Muslim)

What to do when someone else backbiting?

And when they hear vain talk, they turn away from it. (Al-Qasas: 55)

Prophet said: Whoever is present while a Muslim is being humiliated before him, and is able to assist him (and yet does not), Allah will humiliate him before (all of) creation. (Ahmad)

Whoever defends the honour of his brother in his absence, will be entitled to Allah’s protection from the fire. (Ahmad)

Prophet said:Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him either speak good or keep silent. (Agreed Upon)

What is the benefit protecting our brothers?

Prophet said: Whoever averts (an attack) as regards the honour of their brother or sister, Allah will avert the fire from their face on the day of resurrection. (Al-Tirmidhi)

Abu Musa Al Asha’ari narrated: Someone asked the Prophet: Whose Islam is the best? He replied: One who avoids harming a Muslim with his tongue and hands. (Bukhari)

Expiation of backbiting

Prophet said: Whoever has wronged his brother, should ask for his pardon as (in the Hereafter) there will be neither a Dinar nor a Dirham. (He should seek forgiveness in this life) before some of his good deeds are taken and paid to his brother, or if he has no good deed, some of the bad deeds of his brother are taken and added to his (in the Hereafter). (Bukhari)

Backbiting is the way to hellfire.
@Peace.