Listening to backbiting is a sin !!

By Sheikh bin Baaz رحمه الله

Question: I am a young woman who hates backbiting and tale-carrying. And sometimes I will be in a group where they are speaking about the conditions of the people and they will begin to backbite and carry tales. I hate this in myself and I loathe it, but I am extremely shy so I am not able to prevent them from that. And likewise I am not able to find a place to distance myself from them. And Allaah knows I wish they would involve themselves in speech other than this. Is there a sin upon me for sitting with them? And what is incumbent upon me to do.

Sheikh bin Baaz رحمه الله: You are sinning by doing this (sitting with them), unless you disapprove of the evil. If they accept it from you, then all praises belong to Allaah; and if not then it is obligatory upon you to separate from them and to not sit with them. This is based on the statement of Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى:

An Insult with a Gift (Backbiting)

 It is reported that ‘Abd Al-Rahmān b. Mahdī  (Allāh have mercy on him) said, “If it were not for the fact I hate that Allaah is disobeyed, I would have wished that no one remain in this city except that he had spoken ill of me & backbitten me; for what is nicer than a good deed a man finds in his records on the Day of Resurrection without having done a thing or even having known?”

Abū Nu’aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliyā` 4:45.

Cases In which Gheebah (Backbiting) is Permitted

Imâm an-Nawawee رحمه الله said in his Riyaadh-us-Saaliheen, chapter 256: “You should know that backbiting is permissible for specific legislated reasons unreachable except by (way of backbiting) they are the following six reasons:

1. The first is complaining of oppression, so it is permissible for the oppressed person to present his case to the Muslim ruler or Muslim judge or someone of similar stature and authority to assist in removing the oppression. He can say: “I have been wronged by such and such a person.”

2. The second is seeking assistance in changing evil (munkar) and refuting the disobedient until they return to what is correct. So one can say to the one who has the ability to change the evil: “Such and such a person has done this, so advise him.” Or something similar and that he intends to reach this disobedient o­ne by way of removing the evil, so if he intends other than that then it is not permissible.

Backbiting,Slandering, Cursing, etc while fasting…

Sheikh Bin Baaz was asked: “Does backbiting someone break ones fast during Ramadan?”

His reply was: “Backbiting does not break ones fast. It is to mention about someone that which they would not like. It is a form of disobedience. We know this because of the statement of Allah

{وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا}

{… neither backbite one another …}

[Al Hujuraat : 12]

Like this is slandering, cursing, swearing and lying. None of these things break someones fast. They are though, disobedience. Therefore

The Difference between Caution and Suspicion

 

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim

One who is cautious resembles one who travels with his wealth & riding animal while being mindful of thieves. He resembles one who has prepared himself with armor & weapons to meet his enemy.

As for suspicion, it is a heart filled with bad thoughts of others, & backbiting, slander, & hatred is the result. One who is cautious intermingles with people while protecting himself, though one who is suspicious harms them while avoiding them. The former advises them while the latter despises them.

• Transcribed from: The Soul

The Hospitality of the Wrongdoer

 

1.  It is reported from Al-Hasan Al-Basri that a man said to him, “You have gossiped about me.” He (Al-Hasan) said, “You have not reached such a position that you can control my hasanaat!” ¹

2.    Someone was told, “So-and-so has gossiped about you.” So he sent him a dish of dates with the message: “I heard that you had given me your hasanaat as a gift, and I want to return the favour; please excuse me for not being able to pay back in full.”

3.    It is reported from Ibn al-Mubarak (may Allaah have mercy on him) that he said, “If I were to indulge in backbiting about anyone, I would gossip about my parents, for they have more right to my hasanaat.”

Would you like to eat the Flesh of your brother?

Story of the two women fasting during the lifetime 

of Allaah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم)

 

It has been reported in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad that this breaks the fast:

“Two women were once fasting during the lifetime of Allaah’s Messenger & they almost died of thirst. This was mentioned to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) but he turned away from (allowing) them (to break the fast). Then they were mentioned to him again, so he called for them & ordered them to vomit, i.e. throw up, what was in their stomachs. So they both vomited & filled up a bowl with puss, blood & pieces of flesh. Then the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 

The Expiation for Backbiting

by The Albaani Blog

Mujaahid, (may Allaah have mercy on him), said,

“The expiation for eating your brother’s flesh [i.e., backbiting him] is that you praise him and supplicate for goodness for him.”

Mowsu’ah Ibn Abid-Dunyaa, 4/418.