***Severe Warning against Backbiting and Gossiping***

Backbiting has become so common and widespread in many gatherings, that many people forget that is a major sin in Islam with severe consequences in this life and the hereafter. We gossip about each other on a daily basis and make fun of each other without even feeling guilty or thinking about the severity of our actions. Islam is a religion of peace, love and compassion. Lies, suspicion, backbiting, slander and gossip are totally against Islam. In fact, they are considered amongst the most destructive of major sins. This is so because these sins sow enmity among the Muslim Ummah (nation) and lead to its destruction. They cause hostilities between people of the same household, and between neighbors, friends and relatives.

*Hadiths on Backbiting* 

Backbiting and gossiping goes against the teachings of Islam. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “The Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe."

***The Prophet (pbuh) defined backbiting when he said: "Do you know what is meant by backbiting?" They said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "To say something about your brother which he dislikes." One asked, "Even if what I say is true about my brother?" He replied, "If such defects you say are true about him, then you have backbitten him, and if he doesn't have what you say, then you have committed slander against him." (Related by Muslim, Abu Dawood, and Tirmidhi )****

It was narrated that Aboo Barzah Al-Aslaamee said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) said, "O you who have believe with you tongues, but faith has not entered your hearts, do not backbite about the Muslims or seek their faults, for whoever seekers their faults, Allaah will seek his faults, and if Allaah seeks a person's faults He will expose him, even in his house." [Sunan Aboo Daawood]

*Quran on Backbiting*

Allah has said:"And spy not, neither backbite against one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful." (49:12)

"Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is watcher by him ready (to record it)." (50:18)

*Punishment for Backbiting*

It was narrated in the Hadith relating the story of Mi’raj (Ascent) that: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by people with copper fingernails, with which they scratch their own faces and chests. He asked: “Who are those, Gabriel?” It was answered: “Those are the people who eat the flesh of other people and vilify their honor.”

*The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The one who is bankrupt from among my followers is he who comes on the Day of Resurrection with prayer, charity, and fasting to his credit. However, he had insulted this person, struck that person, and seized the wealth of another, on account of which his good deeds will be taken from him. Then, if his good deeds are exhausted, the sins of those whom he wronged will be taken from them and foisted upon him and then he will be cast into the Fire.” [Sahîh Muslim (2581)]

Imagine how we would feel in this world if all the money we worked so hard for we lost and went bankrupt We would be sad, hurt, depressed; yet that money is just temporary to help us in this life. It will never help us in the hereafter, yet we spend so much time worrying about it, keeping it safe. But do we ever care to realize that by backbiting, we will be bankrupt on the day of Judgement, when our deeds will be all we have to save ourselves from the fire. If we want all our good deeds to be accepted we need to stop harming each other, and watch what we say and what we hear.

Therefore, we must make sure we stay away from backbiting and gossiping as it is a major sin in Islam and can lead us to the hell fire. We must also make sure we are not listening to backbiting, as the listener has equal punishment.Ya Allah, please forgive us and keep us away from backbiting .. Ameen