Friend or Someone Else Being Backbitten

Know that it is upon the one who hears a Muslim being backbitten to oppose it and prevent the one doing the backbiting.  If he is not able to prevent him with his speech, then he should stop him with his hand. If he is neither able to do so with his hand or with his tongue, then he should get up and leave that gathering.  And if he hears his teacher (shaikh) being backbitten – or anyone else who has a right over him, or if the person (being backbitten) is from the people of righteousness and nobility, then his concern with what we have mentioned above should be greater.

Abu ad-Dardaa (radyAllahu ‘anhu) narrated the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: "Whoever turns away from (harming) the honor of his brother, Allah will turn his face away from the Hellfire on the Day of Judgement."[1]

And it is reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhari and Muslim from 'Itbaan – or as some say ‘Utbaan – in his long and famous hadeeth, in which he narrated: "The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) stood up to pray, so the people said: 'Where is Maalik Ibn ad-Dukhshum?'  A man said: 'That hypocrite! Allah and His Messenger do not love him.'  So the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: 'Do not say that!  Do you not see that he says:  Laa Ilaaha Illaa Allah (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah), desiring by that, the face of Allah?'"[2]

And it is reported in  Saheeh Muslim  on Al-Hasan Al-Basree that 'Aa'idh Ibn 'Amr (radyAllahu ‘anhu), one of the Companions of Allah’s Messenger, entered in the presence of 'Ubaydullaah Ibn Ziyaad and said: “O my son, indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say:

‘Truly, the most evil of caretakers (leaders) are the oppressive rulers, so beware of being one of them.’”

So he said to him: “Sit down, for you are only from the worthless scraps of the Companions of Muhammad!”  So he responded: “Was there any worthless scraps among them?  Rather the worthless scraps only appeared after them in others.” [3]

Ka’ab Ibn Maalik (radyAllahu ‘anhu) reported in his long hadeeth concerning his repentance that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said while sitting with some people in Tabook: “What did Ka’ab Ibn Maalik do?” A man from Banu Salima said: “O Allah’s Messenger! The (beauty) of his cloak and a self-appreciation of his finery have allured and detained him (i.e. from going to fight in the expedition)!”

Upon this, Mu’aadh Ibn Jabal (radyAllahu ‘anhu) said to him: “What an evil thing you have said!  I swear by Allah, O Messenger of Allah, we do not know anything about him except good.”  So Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) remained silent.[4]

Jaabir Ibn ‘Abdillaah and Abu Talha (radyAllahu ‘anhum) said: “Allah’s Messenger (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘No (Muslim) person abandons another Muslim in a place where his sanctity will be violated and his honor will be lowered, except that Allah will abandon him in a place that he would love to have His support. And no (Muslim) person aids another Muslim in a place where his sanctity will be violated and his honor will be lowered, except that Allah will aid him in a place that he would love to have His support.’” [5]

Mu’aadh Ibn Anas (radyAllahu ‘anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever protects a believer from a hypocrite, Allah will send forth an angel that will protect his flesh on the Day of Judgement from (being burned by) the fire of Hell.  And whoever accuses a Muslim of anything, desiring to disgrace him, Allah will withhold him over the bridge of the Hellfire until he takes back what he said.”[6]