The unlawfulness of backbiting and talebearing

KNOW THAT THESE two traits are among the ugliest, most repulsive and most widespread qualities among people, so much so that only a few people are safe from them. Because of the general need for vigilance against [these traits] I have started with them.

Backbiting means talking about a person’s characteristics in a way that he would dislike, whether it be about his body, his religion, his worldly affairs, his person, his physical condition, his character, his wealth, his children, his parents, his wife, his servants, his slaves, his turban, his garments, his walk, his movements, his cheerfulness, his dissolute character, his scowl, his relaxedness, or anything else that he is associated with. It does not matter whether you mention this verbally or in writing, or whether you allude to it or indicate it with the eye, hand, or head; and so on.

Concerning his body, it would include saying that he is blind, lame, bleary-eyed, bald, short, tall, black or yellow.

As regards his religion, it would include saying he is a deviant, thief, cheat or wrongdoer, that he is neglectful of ṣalāh, careless about impurity, does not treat his parents well, does not pay his zakāh to the right categories, or does not refrain from backbiting.

Concerning his worldly affairs, it would include saying that he is ill-mannered and disdainful of people, does not see anyone as having any rights over him, is talkative, eats or sleeps a lot, sleeps when he should not, or sits where he should not sit.

As regards his father, it would include saying that his father is a deviant, an Indian, Nabatean, black, a shoemaker, a cloth merchant, a cattle trader, a carpenter, a blacksmith, or a weaver.

Concerning his character, it would include saying that he has bad character or is arrogant, ostentatious, rash, tyrannical, feeble, weak-hearted, irresponsible, stern, or profligate, and so on.

Concerning his clothes, it would include saying that they are wide-sleeved, long, dirty, and so on.

The rest can be deduced from what we have mentioned. The general concept is that of saying anything about a person which he does not like.

Imam Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī has transmitted that the consensus of the Muslims is that backbiting means talking about someone else and mentioning anything which he would not like to hear. Authentic hadiths which elucidate this will follow.

Talebearing means passing on people’s talk to others with the aim of causing trouble. Those are the definitions of these two things.

The ruling is that both [backbiting and slander] are ḥarām by consensus of the Muslims. Explicit proof from the Book, the Sunnah and the consensus of the Ummah confirm that they are ḥarām.

Allah says: “Woe to every scandalmonger and backbiter.” ^[2].

Allah says: “A slanderer, going about talebearing.” ^[3].

We relate in the Ṣaḥīḥs of al-Bukhārī and Muslim that Ḥudhayfah related that the Prophet said: “No talebearer will enter Paradise.” ^[4].

We relate from the same Ṣaḥīḥs that Ibn ‘Abbās reported that the Messenger of Allah passed by two graves and said: “These two are being punished, and they are not being punished for a major sin.” (According to a narration in al-Bukhārī, however, he said: “Certainly it is a major sin.”) “One of them used to go about talebearing; as for the other, he failed to guard himself from urine.” ^[5].

I say that the learned hold that the words “They are not being punished for a major sin” mean either that it was not a major sin in their opinion or that it was a major sin which they were obliged to give up.

We relate in the Ṣaḥīḥ of Muslim and the Sunans of Abū Dāwūd, at-Tirmidhī and an-Nasā’ī that Abū Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah asked: “Do you know what backbiting is?” [Those present] said: “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said: “Talking about your brother and mentioning something that he would dislike.” Someone asked: “What if what I say about my brother is true?” He replied: “If what you say is true of him then you have maligned him; and if what you say is not true of him then you have slandered him.” ^[6].At-Tirmidhī says that this is a ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ hadith.

We relate in the Ṣaḥīḥs of al-Bukhārī and Muslim that Abū Bakrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said in the sermon on the Day of Slaughtering at Minā on the Farewell Pilgrimage: “Verily your blood, your wealth and your honour are sacred to each other like the sanctity of this day of yours in this month of yours in this land of yours. Have I conveyed the message?” ^[7].

We relate in the Sunans of Abū Dāwūd and at-Tirmidhī that ‘Ā’ishah narrated: “I asked the Prophet : ‘Is it enough for you that Ṣafiyyah is such-and-such?”’ According to one of the narrators, she meant that she was short. “He replied: ‘You have said something which, if it were mixed with the water of the sea, would contaminate it.’” She said: “I spoke to him about a person, and he said: ‘I would not like to speak about a person even if I had such-and-such.’” ^[8].At-Tirmidhī says that this is a ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ hadith.

I say that mazajat-hu means being mixed with in such a way as to change the taste and smell [of the water] because of its extremely foul smell and maliciousness. This hadith is one of the severest reprimands for backbiting—if not the severest. I do not know of any hadith that contains as grave a rebuke as this. “And he does not speak from his own caprice: it is only Revelation which has been revealed.” We ask Allah the Most Generous for His compassion, and for safety from every abominable act.

We relate in the Sunan of Abū Dāwūd that Anas narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: “During my Mi‘rāj, I passed by people who had talons of copper with which they were scratching their faces and chests. I asked: ‘Who are these people, Jibrīl?’ He said: ‘These are the ones who devour people’s flesh and disparage their honour.’” ^[9].

We relate in [the same source] that Sa‘īd ibn Zayd narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: “The worst form of usury is to impugn a Muslim’s honour without just cause.” ^[10].

We relate in the book of at-Tirmidhī that Abū Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “The Muslim is a brother to a Muslim: he does not betray him, he does not lie to him, and he does not abandon him. All of a Muslim is sacrosanct to a Muslim: his honour, his wealth and his blood. The fear of Allah is here. It is sufficient evil for a man to disdain his Muslim brother.” ^[11].According to at-Tirmidhī, this is a ḥasan hadith.

I say: “How great is the benefit of this hadith, and how abundant are its moral lessons! All success is by Allah.”