Afflicting a Muslim with the Tongue (1/5)

The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: "The whole of the Muslim is sacred, his blood, his property and his honor." [Reported by Muslim]

And in his farewell Khutbah, he (Peace be upon him) said: "...Indeed your blood, your wealth and your honor are all Haraam (sacred) to each other, just as this day is sacred (the Day of 'Eed ul-Adhaa), in this sacred month (Zil Hajj) in this sacred place (the place of Hajj).” [Reported by Al-Baihaqee]

Backbiting:

Allah, the Most High said:

"Do not backbite one another, would any one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother, verily you detest this...." [Surah Al-Hujuraat 49:12]

The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: "Backbiting is mentioning something about your brother that he dislikes." [Reported by Maalik and Ibn Mubaraak]

And in another narration, he (Peace be upon him) said: "Backbiting is to mention about a person something about him in his absence". [Reported by Abu Dawood]

The Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: "Do you know what is gheebah (Backbiting)?" They said "Allah and His Messenger (Peace be upon him) know best." He (Peace be upon him) said: "Mentioning about your brother what he would hate (in his absence)". It was said: "What about if what I say about my brother is true?" He (Peace be upon him) said: "If what you said about him is true then you would have backbited him, and if it is not true, then he is slandered (buhtaan).” [Reported by Muslim]

Based on the above As-Hadeeth, backbiting can be defined as:

"Mentioning about a person in his absence something he would hate even if it is a characteristic he possesses."

Backbiting is haraam and the person who involves in it must repent.

When is talking about your brother not considered to be backbiting:

Hind, the wife of Abu Sufyaan, came to the Messenger (Peace be upon him) and said:

"Abu Sufyaan is a miserly man and he does not give me enough for me and my child except if I take from him and he does not know." The Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: "Take what is commonly known as enough for you and your child". [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim]

It is clear from the above Hadeeth, that in certain specific cases, a Muslim is permitted to talk about someone behind his or her back. For example:

a) If a man is oppressed, he can go to the ruler or judge or someone who has the ability to stop the oppression, and make a petition, as Hind did.

b) Also, when seeking an Islamic ruling, it is allowed to mention a person's bad quality, as is established in the hadeeth of Hind above, as when Hind asked: "Abu Sufyaan is a miserly man and he does not give me enough for me and my child except if I take from him and he does not know".

c) Seeking help to change a wrong by taking one's right. If someone cannot change it himself, then he can go to someone who is in a position to change it. Thus, he will have to backbite his oppressor to inform the person who can give him authority. The hadeeth of Hind above exemplifies this.

In the case of "commanding good and forbidding evil", a person is allowed to mention the known innovation or sin of another person, in order to warn others about it. However, if one declares the actions of people that are done in secret, this is considered to be backbiting.

One is also permitted to inquire about a person who has a specific call-name, like the deaf man, or blind man. However, if his correct name is known, then it would not be allowed to use other false names.

In the same vein, one is allowed to forewarn and caution his brother or sister, about someone who is a sinner or innovator, in order for them to be free from their influence. Allah, the Most High said:

"Help one another in righteousness and piety; but do not assist one another in sin or transgression" [Surah Al-Maaidah 5:2]

(Continued)