Dear Islamic brothers! Due to lack of Islamic knowledge and due to ignorance it is very difficult to refrain from backbiting, let alone knowing its definition. Unfortunately, nowadays majority of us do not know its definition. Let’s listen to the definition of backbiting.

Shaykh Imam Ahmad Bin Hajar Makki Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has narrated: The blessed Islamic scholars رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی have said: To mention the fault which a person has, is called backbiting whether the fault is in his religious matters, worldly matters, personality, character, wealth, children, wife, servant, ‘Imamah, behaviour and manners, clothes, smile, lack of common sense, rudeness, politeness and anything that is related to him. Examples of backbiting against the body: Calling someone else blind, lame, bald, midget (small person), lanky (tall), and black etc. Examples of backbiting against religious matters: Corrupt, thief, deceitful, oppressive, lazy in offering Salah, disobedient to parents etc.

(Az-Zawajir ‘Aniqtiraf-il-Kabaair, vol. 2, pp. 24)

It has been understood that mentioning the fault of a person in his absence, which he has, is called backbiting. If he does not have the fault, then it is called slander which is a more severe sin than backbiting. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم once asked, ‘Do you know what backbiting is?’ It was humbly replied, ‘Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم know better.’ Then the Beloved and Blessed Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘(Backbiting is that) you talk about your brother in a way which he dislikes.’ It was humbly asked, ‘What if he has the fault?’ He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘If he has the fault that you are talking about, you have committed backbiting against him and if he does not have it (the fault), you have slandered him.’

(Sahih Muslim, pp. 1397, Hadees 2589)

Remember! Committing backbiting is a grave sin, totally Haraam and an act leading to Hell. In the Holy Quran, such a person is called like the one who eats the flesh of his dead brother. In Ayah 12 of Surah Al-Hujurat, part 26, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has stated:

وَ لَا یَغْتَبْ بَّعْضُكُمْ بَعْضًاؕ-اَیُحِبُّ اَحَدُكُمْ اَنْ یَّاْكُلَ لَحْمَ اَخِیْهِ مَیْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوْهُؕ-