2.37. BACK-BITING (concluded)

God says

Verily, as for those who like [to hear] foul slander spread against [any of] those who have attained to faith – grievous suffering awaits them in this world* and in the life to come: for God knows [the full truth], whereas you know [it] not. Q.24:19
*The Quranic warning against slander and, by obvious implication, against any attempt by seeking out other people’s faults find an echo in several well-authenticated sayings of the Prophet: “Beware of all guesswork [about one another], for, behold, all [such] guess work is most deceptive (akdhab al-hadith); and “do not spy upon one another, and do not try to bare [other people’s] failings” (Muatta’; almost identical versions of this Tradition have been quoted by Bukhari, Muslim and Abu Daud); “Do not hurt those who have surrendered themselves to God (al-muslimin), and do not impute evil to them, and do not try to uncover their nakedness [i.e., their faults): for, behold, if anyone tries to uncover his brother [Muslim’s] nakedness, God will uncover his own nakedness [on the Day of Judgment]” (Tirmidhi); and, “Never does a believer draw a veil over the nakedness of another believer without God drawing veil over his own nakedness on Resurrection Day” (Bukhari). All these injunctions have received their seal, as it were, in the Quranic exhortation (49:12) “Avoid most guesswork [about one another] – for, behold, some of [such] guesswork is [in itself] a sin”.

O you who believe! No men shall deride [other] men: it may well be that those [whom they deride] are better than themselves; and no women shall deride [other] women; it may well be that those [whom they deride] are better than themselves. And neither shall you defame one another, nor insult one another by calling with [offensive] names: evil is all imputation of iniquity after [one has attained to] faith; and they who [become guilty thereof and] do not repent – it is they, they who are evildoers! -- Q.49:11


Prophet said

Narrated Huzaifah that he heard the Prophet saying “A Qattar* will not enter paradise”. -- H:Bukhari
*A person who conveys disagreeable, false information from one person to another with the intention of causing harm and enmity between them.

Back-biting is not confined only to tongue. It could be through writing, signs, hints etc. All the ways showing contempt or lowering position of others are unlawful and their punishment is equal. Back-biting is also by heart: evil conjecture about others as mentioned in 49:12. Guesswork that may lead to unfounded suspicion of another person’s motives.
Souls must be freed from evil thoughts because they cause evil behaviour.

When it is not back-biting. When the oppressed speaks against oppression and wrong-doing, before a judge or people, or when spoken ill of a ruler, a judge, a leader etc., for injustice, oppression or bribery; or when fellow men cautioned of getting harmed from someone, etc.

From next Friday, inshaAllah, will begin the series of topic “SILENCE AND REFLECTION”, with selection from among those verses having very informative and useful notes, inevitably lengthy.