Backbiter is a cheat

Summary:

It has become a norm to narrate an embarrassing past event or preceding discussions of an absent person, which did take place. In Islam it is forbidden unless it is already in publicly knowledge and/or is from a ‘Biddah’ (heresy – harmful to religion), this norm of society comes under backbiting and Islam considers it as (equating to) eating the flash of one’s brother. However, if the narration is a fabrication, then it would come under ‘Bohtan’ (slandering) which is a punishable sin. The backbiter is termed as a ‘Cheat’! Some brief Ahadith are cited below:

الدُّرَّةُ الْبَاهِرَةُ، قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‏ وَ لْيَقِلَّ عَيْبُ النَّاسِ عَلَى لِسَانِكَ.

(The book) ‘Al Durr Al Bahira’ –

‘Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws said: ‘And let people’s faults be less on your tongue’’.[1]

وَ قَالَ ع‏ مَنْ رَمَى النَّاسَ بِمَا فِيهِمْ رَمَوْهُ بِمَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ.

And he^-asws said: ‘One who shoots (accuses) the people with what is in them, they will shoot at him (accuse him) with what isn’t in him’’.[2]

كان رسول الله ص إذا كره من إنسان شيئا قال ما بال أقوام يفعلون كذا و كذا و لا يعين.

Rasool-Allah^-saww was such that whenever he^-saww mentioned something from a person, said: ‘What is the matter with a people doing such and such?’ And he^-saww would not specify’’.[3]

وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع‏ اذْكُرُوا مَحَاسِنَ مَوْتَاكُمْ.

And Ali^-asws said: ‘Mention the good deeds of your deceased’’.[4]

وَ فِي خَبَرٍ آخَرَ لَا تَقُولُوا فِي مَوْتَاكُمْ إِلَّا خَيْراً.

And in another: ‘Do not be saying regarding your deceased, except good’’.[5]

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‏ أَ تَرْعَوُونَ عَنْ ذِكْرِ الْفَاجِرِ حَتَّى يَعْرِفَهُ النَّاسُ اذْكُرُوهُ بِمَا فِيهِ يَحْذَرُهُ النَّاسُ.

The Prophet^-saww said: ‘Are you afraid from mentioning the immoral until the people recognise him? Mention him with whatever is in him, the people can be careful of him’’.[6]

Ahadith on Backbiting:

Some Ahadith are presented related to fleeing from backbiting and backbiters.

الكافي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ لَا نَعْلَمُهُ إِلَّا يَحْيَى الْأَزْرَقَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع‏ مَنْ ذَكَرَ رَجُلًا مِنْ خَلْفِهِ بِمَا هُوَ فِيهِ مِمَّا عَرَفَهُ النَّاسُ لَمْ يَغْتَبْهُ وَ مَنْ ذَكَرَهُ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ بِمَا هُوَ فِيهِ مِمَّا لَا يَعْرِفُهُ النَّاسُ اغْتَابَهُ وَ مَنْ ذَكَرَهُ بِمَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ فَقَدْ بَهَتَهُ‏.

(The book) ‘Al Kafi’ – Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al Abbas Bin Aamir, from Aban, from a man we don’t know except as Yahya Al-Azraq who said,

‘Abu Al-Hassan^-asws said: ‘One who mentions a man from behind him with what is in him, from what the people do know, he is not backbiting him, and one who mentions it from behind him with what is in him from what the people don’t know, he is backbiting him, and the one who mentions him with isn’t in him, so he has slandered him’’.[7]

أَطْلِقْ عَنِ النَّاسِ عُقْدَةَ كُلِّ حِقْدٍ وَ اقْطَعْ عَنْكَ سَبَبَ كُلِّ وِتْرٍ وَ تَغَابَ عَنْ كُلِّ مَا لَا يَضِحُ لَكَ‏ وَ لَا تَعْجَلَنَّ إِلَى تَصْدِيقِ سَاعٍ فَإِنَّ السَّاعِيَ غَاشٌّ وَ إِنْ‏ تَشَبَّهَ بِالنَّاصِحِينَ

(Amir Al-Momineen^asws wrote to Al-Ashtar when sent him as a ruler over them): Free from the people the knot of every grudge and cut off from you the cause of every string (enmity), and be absent from all what is not clear to you, and do not be hasty to ratify (endorse) a backbiter, for the backbiter is a cheat and even he resembles with the advisers. ….. And the abundant greetings be upon His^azwj Rasool^saww and his^saww Progeny^asws, and submissive submission’’. (an extract)[8]

الكافي عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ الْغِيبَةُ أَسْرَعُ فِي دِينِ الرَّجُلِ الْمُسْلِمِ مِنَ الْأَكِلَةِ فِي جَوْفِهِ

(The book) ‘Al Kafi’ – From Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuny,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The backbiting is quicker in the religion of a Muslim man than the meal in his interior’.

قَالَ وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْجُلُوسُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ انْتِظَارَ الصَّلَاةِ عِبَادَةٌ مَا لَمْ يُحْدِثْ

He^-asws said: ‘And Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The sitting in the Masjid awaiting the Salat is (an act of) worship, for as long as the occurrence does not happen’.

قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ مَا يُحْدِثُ

‘It was said, ‘O Rasool-Allah^-saww! And what is the occurrence?’

قَالَ الِاغْتِيَابَ‏.

He^-saww said: ‘The backbiting’’.[9]

Imam^-asws rebukes a backbiter (who reports an illicit talk):

الإحتجاج عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع إِنَّ فُلَاناً يَنْسُبُكَ إِلَى أَنَّكَ ضَالٌّ مُبْتَدِعٌ

(The book) ‘Al Ihtijaj’ – Abdullah Bin Sinan,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘A man said to Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws, ‘So and so attributes you^-asws to that you^-asws are a straying innovator!’

فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ مَا رَعَيْتَ حَقَّ مُجَالَسَةِ الرَّجُلِ حَيْثُ نَقَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا حَدِيثَهُ وَ لَا أَدَّيْتَ حَقِّي حَيْثُ أَبْلَغْتَنِي عَنْ أَخِي مَا لَسْتُ أَعْلَمُهُ إِنَّ الْمَوْتَ يَعُمُّنَا وَ الْبَعْثَ مَحْشَرُنَا وَ الْقِيَامَةَ مَوْعِدُنَا وَ اللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَنَا

Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws said to him: ‘You have not taken care of sitting with the man whereby you narrated his narration to us^-asws, nor did you fulfil my^-asws right whereby you delivered to me^-asws from my^-asws brother what I^-asws didn’t know. The death will generalise us, and the Resurrection will raise us, and the Qiyamah is our meeting place, and Allah^-azwj will Judge between us.

إِيَّاكَ وَ الْغِيبَةَ فَإِنَّهَا إِدَامُ كِلَابِ النَّارِ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ مَنْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذِكْرِ عُيُوبِ النَّاسِ شَهِدَ عَلَيْهِ الْإِكْثَارُ أَنَّهُ إِنَّمَا يَطْلُبُهَا بِقَدْرِ مَا فِيهِ‏.

Beware of the backbiting, for it is a sauce of the dogs of the Fire, and know what the one who frequents from mentioning faults of the people, many will testify against him that he had rather sought these in accordance to what had been in him’’.[10]

تفسير القمي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْأَعْلَى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلَا يَجْلِسُ فِي مَجْلِسٍ يُسَبُّ فِيهِ إِمَامٌ أَوْ يُغْتَابُ فِيهِ مُسْلِمٌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ فِي كِتَابِهِ- وَ إِذا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آياتِنا إِلَى قَوْلِهِ‏ مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ‏.

Tafseer Al Qummi – Ahmad Bin Idrees, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al-Husayn Bin Saed, from Fazalat, from Ibn Ameyra, from Abdul A’ala,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘One who were to believe in Allah^‑azwj and the Last Day, he should not sit in a gathering an Imam^-asws is being reviled in, or a Muslim is being backbitten in it. Allah^-azwj Says in His^-azwj Book: And when you see those engaging in vanities regarding Our Signs, turn away from them until they are engaging in another discussion. And as for what the Satan makes you forget, so after remembering, do not sit with the unjust people [6:68]’’.[11]

Listening intently to backbiting is forbidden:

الأمالي للصدوق فِي مَنَاهِي النَّبِيِّ ص‏ أَنَّهُ نَهَى عَنِ الْغِيبَةِ وَ الِاسْتِمَاعِ إِلَيْهَا وَ قَالَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مَنِ اغْتَابَ امْرَأً مُسْلِماً بَطَلَ صَوْمُهُ وَ نُقِضَ وُضُوؤُهُ وَ جَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ تَفُوحُ مِنْهُ رَائِحَةٌ أَنْتَنُ مِنَ الْجِيفَةِ يَتَأَذَّى بِهِ أَهْلُ الْمَوْقِفِ فَإِنْ مَاتَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتُوبَ مَاتَ مُسْتَحِلًّا لِمَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ

(The book) ‘Al-Amaali’ of Al-Sadouq –

‘Among prohibitions by the Prophet^-saww, he^-saww prohibited from the backbiting and the listening intently to it, and he^-saww, may the Salawaat of Allah^-azwj be upon him^-saww and his^-saww Progeny^-asws, said: ‘One who backbites a Muslim person, his fasts are nullified, and his Wud’u is broken, and he will come on the Day of Qiyamah such that a smell will be effusing from him being smellier than the carcass, the people at the pausing will be harmed by it. If he dies before he repents, he would have died having permitted what Allah^-azwj had Prohibited’.

وَ قَالَ ص مَنْ كَظَمَ غَيْظاً وَ هُوَ قَادِرٌ عَلَى إِنْفَاذِهِ وَ حَلُمَ عَنْهُ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ أَجْرَ شَهِيدٍ أَلَا وَ مَنْ تَطَوَّلَ عَلَى أَخِيهِ فِي غِيبَةٍ سَمِعَهَا فِيهِ فِي مَجْلِسٍ فَرَدَّهَا عَنْهُ رَدَّ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ أَلْفَ بَابٍ مِنَ السُّوءِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ فَإِنْ هُوَ لَمْ يَرُدَّهَا وَ هُوَ قَادِرٌ عَلَى رَدِّهَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ كَوِزْرِ مَنِ اغْتَابَهُ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً.

And he^-saww said: ‘One who swallows anger while he is able upon implementing it and forbears from it, Allah^-azwj will Give him Recompense of a martyr; and the one who graces upon his brother regarding a backbite he had heard regarding him, so he repels it from him, Allah^-azwj will Repel from him a thousand doors of evil in the world and the Hereafter. But if he does not repel it while he is able upon repelling it, upon him would be like a burden (of sins) of the one who had backbitten him, seventy times’’.[12]

Backbiter is outside from the Wilayah of Allah^-azwj and inside the wilayah of Satan^-la

الأمالي للصدوق أَبِي عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ قُتَيْبَةَ عَنْ حَمْدَانَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ نُوحِ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ صَالِحٍ عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ قَالَ قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع‏ وَ قَدْ قُلْتُ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أَخْبِرْنِي عَمَّنْ تُقْبَلُ شَهَادَتُهُ وَ مَنْ لَا تُقْبَلُ

(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of Al Sadouq – My father, from Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Quteyba, from Hamdan Bin Suleyman, from Nuh Bin Shueyb, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Salih, from Alqamah who said,

‘Al-Sadiq^-asws said, and I had said to him^-asws, ‘O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! Inform me about the one whose testimony is acceptable, and the one whose testimony is not acceptable’.

فَقَالَ يَا عَلْقَمَةُ كُلُّ مَنْ كَانَ عَلَى فِطْرَةِ الْإِسْلَامِ جَازَتْ شَهَادَتُهُ

He^-asws said: ‘O Alqamah! Every one who were to be upon the nature of Al-Islam, his testimony is allowed’’.

قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ تُقْبَلُ شَهَادَةُ مُقْتَرِفٍ لِلذُّنُوبِ

He (the narrator) said, ‘I said to him^-asws, ‘Will the testimony of an acknowledger of the sins be acceptable?’

فَقَالَ يَا عَلْقَمَةُ لَوْ لَمْ تُقْبَلْ شَهَادَةُ الْمُقْتَرِفِينَ لِلذُّنُوبِ لَمَا قُبِلَتْ إِلَّا شَهَادَاتُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ لِأَنَّهُمْ هُمُ‏ الْمَعْصُومُونَ دُونَ سَائِرِ الْخَلْقِ

He^-asws said: ‘O Alqamah! If the testimony of an acknowledger of the sins is not accepted, nothing will be accepted except testimony of the Prophets^-as and the successors^-asws, may the Salawaat of Allah^-azwj be upon them^-asws, because they^-asws are the infallible besides rest of the people.

فَمَنْ لَمْ تَرَهُ بِعَيْنِكَ يَرْتَكِبُ ذَنْباً أَوْ لَمْ يَشْهَدْ عَلَيْهِ بِذَلِكَ شَاهِدَانِ فَهُوَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعَدَالَةِ وَ السَّتْرِ- وَ شَهَادَتُهُ مَقْبُولَةٌ وَ إِنْ كَانَ فِي نَفْسِهِ مُذْنِباً وَ مَنِ اغْتَابَهُ بِمَا فِيهِ فَهُوَ خَارِجٌ عَنْ وَلَايَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ دَاخِلٌ فِي وَلَايَةِ الشَّيْطَانِ

The one whom you have not seen with your own eyes indulging in a sin, or two witnesses have not testified upon him with that, so he is from the ones righteous of the justice and the covering up, and his testimony is acceptable, and even if he was a sinner within himself, and the one who backbites him, he is outside from the Wilayah of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic and inside the wilayah of Satan^-la.

وَ لَقَدْ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ مَنِ اغْتَابَ مُؤْمِناً بِمَا فِيهِ لَمْ يَجْمَعِ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَبَداً وَ مَنِ اغْتَابَ مُؤْمِناً بِمَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ انْقَطَعَتِ الْعِصْمَةُ بَيْنَهُمَا وَ كَانَ الْمُغْتَابُ فِي النَّارِ خالِداً فِيها وَ بِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ.

And my^-asws father^-asws had narrated to me^-asws from his^-asws father, from his^-asws forefathers that Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘One who backbites a Momin with what is in him, Allah^-azwj will not Gather between the two in the Paradise, ever! And the one who backbites a Momin with what isn’t in him, the protection between them is cut off, and the backbiter would be in the Fire, being eternally in it, and evil is the destination’’.^[13]

Defender of a Muslim is in Paradise:

ثواب الأعمال أَبِي عَنْ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ مَنْ رَدَّ عَنْ عِرْضِ أَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ الْبَتَّةَ.

(The book) ‘Sawaab Al Amaal’ – My father, from Ali, from his father, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuny,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘One who defends an honour of his Muslim brother, the Paradise is obligated for him indeed’’.^[14]

ثواب الأعمال ابْنُ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ عَنِ الْحِمْيَرِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْوَرْدِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ: مَنِ اغْتِيبَ عِنْدَهُ أَخُوهُ الْمُؤْمِنُ فَنَصَرَهُ وَ أَعَانَهُ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ مَنِ اغْتِيبَ عِنْدَهُ أَخُوهُ الْمُؤْمِنُ فَلَمْ يَنْصُرْهُ وَ لَمْ يَدْفَعْ عَنْهُ وَ هُوَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى نُصْرَتِهِ وَ عَوْنِهِ خَفَضَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ.

(The book) ‘Sawaab Al Amaal’ – Ibn Al Mutawakkil, from Al Himeyri, from Ibn Abu Al Khattab, from Ibn Mahboub, from Ibn Rian, from Abu Al Warid,

‘From Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘One in whose presence his Momin brother is being backbitten, so he helps him (that who is talked about) and assists him, Allah^-azwj will Help him in the world and the Hereafter; and the one in whose presence his Momin brother is being backbitten, but he does not help him and does not defend him while he is able upon helping him and assisting him, Allah^-azwj lower him in the world and the Hereafter’’.^[15]

وَ قَالَ ص‏ سِتُّ خِصَالٍ مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَمُوتُ فِي وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ إِلَّا كَانَ ضَامِناً عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ رَجُلٌ نِيَّتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَغْتَابَ مُسْلِماً فَإِنْ مَاتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ كَانَ ضَامِناً عَلَى اللَّهِ الْخَبَرَ.

And he^-saww said: ‘Six characteristics, there is no Muslim dying in one of these, except I^-saww guarantee upon Allah^-azwj that He^-azwj will Enter him into the Paradise – a man whose intention is that he will not backbite a Muslim. If he dies upon that, it would be a guarantee upon Allah^‑azwj’ – the Hadeeth’’.[16]

وَ قَالَ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ لَا يَسْتَقِيمُ إِيمَانُ عَبْدٍ حَتَّى يَسْتَقِيمَ قَلْبُهُ وَ لَا يَسْتَقِيمُ قَلْبُهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَقِيمَ لِسَانُهُ فَمَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَلْقَى اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ وَ هُوَ نَقِيُّ الرَّاحَةِ مِنْ دِمَاءِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ سَلِيمُ اللِّسَانِ مِنْ أَعْرَاضِهِمْ فَلْيَفْعَلْ‏.

And he^-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww: ‘The Eman of a person cannot be straight until his heart is straight, and his heart cannot be straight until his tongue is straight. So the one from you who is capable of meeting Allah^-azwj the Glorious and he is of pure comfort from the blood of Muslims and their wealth, safe of the tongue from their honours, let him do so’’.[17]

أَعْلَامُ الدِّينِ، قَالَ عَبْدُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الْأَنْصَارِيُ‏ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ وَ عِنْدَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْجَعْفَرِيُّ فَتَبَسَّمْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَ تُحِبُّهُ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ وَ مَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ إِلَّا لَكُمْ

(The book) ‘A’lam Al Deen’ – Abdul Momin Al Ansari said,

‘I entered to see Musa^-asws Bin Ja’far^-asws, may the greetings be unto them^-asws both, and in his^‑asws presence was Muhammad Bin Abdullah Al-Ja’fary. I smiled at him. He^-asws said: ‘Do you love him?’ I said, ‘Yes, and I do not love him except for you (Imams^-asws)’.

فَقَالَ ع هُوَ أَخُوكَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنُ أَخُو الْمُؤْمِنِ لِأُمَّهِ وَ لِأَبِيهِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَلِدْهُ أَبُوهُ مَلْعُونٌ مَنِ اتَّهَمَ أَخَاهُ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ غَشَّ أَخَاهُ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ لَمْ يَنْصَحْ أَخَاهُ مَلْعُونٌ مَنِ اغْتَابَ أَخَاهُ.

He^-asws said: ‘He is your brother, and the Momin is a brother of the Momin of his mother and of his father; and one whom his father did not beget him is an accursed; and one who slanders his brother is an accursed; one who cheats his brother is accursed; and who does not advise his brother is accursed; one who backbites his brother (is accursed)’’.[18]

There is no backbiting for the vulgar and heretic:

فقه الرضا عليه السلام‏ اجْتَنِبُوا الْغِيبَةَ غِيبَةَ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ احْذَرُوا النَّمِيمَةَ فَإِنَّهُمَا يُفَطِّرَانِ الصَّائِمَ وَ لَا غِيبَةَ لِلْفَاجِرِ وَ شَارِبِ الْخَمْرِ وَ اللَّاعِبِ بِالشِّطْرَنْجِ وَ الْقِمَارِ.

(The book) ‘Fiqh Al-Reza^-asws’, may the greetings be upon him^-asws: ‘Shun the backbiting, backbiting the Momin, and be cautious of the gossiping, for these two break the fast (of the fasting one), and there is no backbiting of the immoral, and drinker of the wine, and the chess player, and the gambler’’.[19]

فَرَوَى الشَّيْخُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فِي الصَّحِيحِ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ سِرْحَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ أَهْلَ الرَّيْبِ وَ الْبِدَعِ مِنْ بَعْدِي فَأَظْهِرُوا الْبَرَاءَةَ مِنْهُمْ وَ أَكْثِرُوا مِنْ سَبِّهِمْ وَ الْقَوْلِ فِيهِمْ وَ الْوَقِيعَةِ وَ بَاهِتُوهُمْ كَيْلَا يَطْغَوْا فِي الْفَسَادِ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ وَ يَحْذَرَهُمُ النَّاسُ وَ لَا يَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْ بِدَعِهِمْ يَكْتُبُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ بِذَلِكَ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَ يَرْفَعُ لَكُمْ بِهِ الدَّرَجَاتِ فِي الْآخِرَةِ.

It is reported by the sheykkh Abu Ja’far Al-Kulayni, from him in ‘Al-Saheeh’, from Dawood Bin Sirham, from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘Whenever you see the people of doubts and innovations from after me^-saww, then reveal the disavowing from them and frequent from reviling them, and the word regarding them, and the talking badly, and accuse them, lets they exceed in the mischief in Al Islam, and caution the people, and do not learn from their innovations, Allah^-azwj will Write the good deeds for you all due to that, and Raise the ranks for you in the Hereafter’’.[20]

ختص، الإختصاص قَالَ الرِّضَا ع‏ مَنْ أَلْقَى جِلْبَابَ الْحَيَاءِ فَلَا غِيبَةَ لَهُ‏.

(The book) ‘Al Ikhtisaas’ –

‘Al-Reza^-asws said: ‘One who throws off the robe of modesty, there is no backbiting for him’’.[21]

الأمالي للصدوق ابْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ هَاشِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: أَرْبَعَةٌ لَا يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ الْكَاهِنُ وَ الْمُنَافِقُ وَ مُدْمِنُ الْخَمْرِ وَ الْقَتَّاتُ وَ هُوَ النَّمَّامُ‏.

(The book) ‘Al Amaali’ of Al Sadouq – Ibn Idrees, from his father, from Ibn Yazeed, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Muawiya Bin Wahab, from Abu Saeed Hashim,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Four will not be entering the Paradise – the soothsayer, and the hypocrite, and the habitual of wine, and ‘Al-Qattat’, and he is the gossiper’’.^[22]

Some Ahadith on the scope of backbiting are included in the Appendix.

Appendix: Additional Ahadith Explaining scope of Backbiting[23]

وَ قَدْ جَاءَ عَلَى الْمَشْهُورِ قَوْلُ النَّبِيِّ ص‏ هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا الْغِيبَةُ فَقَالُوا اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ.

And it has come upon the well-known words of the Prophet^-saww: ‘Do you know what the backbiting is?’ They said, ‘Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww are more knowing’. He^-saww said: ‘Your mentioning your brother with what he dislikes’’.

وَ عَنْ جَابِرٍ وَ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‏ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ الْغِيبَةَ فَإِنَّ الْغِيبَةَ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الزِّنَا إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ قَدْ يَزْنِي وَ يَتُوبُ فَيَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنَّ صَاحِبَ الْغِيبَةِ لَا يُغْفَرُ لَهُ حَتَّى يَغْفِرَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ.

And from Jabir and Abu Saeed Al-Khudry who both said, ‘The Prophet^-saww: ‘Beware of backbiting, for the backbiting is severer than the adultery. The man could commit adultery and repents, so Allah^-azwj Turns to him (with Mercy), and the backbiter is not Forgiven until his companion (the back-bitten) forgives him’’.

وَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ مَرَرْتُ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي عَلَى قَوْمٍ يَخْمِشُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ بِأَظَافِيرِهِمْ فَقُلْتُ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ قَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ يَغْتَابُونَ النَّاسَ وَ يَقَعُونَ فِي أَعْرَاضِهِمْ.

And from Anas (a well-known fabricator) said, ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘On the night of my^-saww Ascension I^-saww passed by a group scratching their faces with their finger-nails. I^-saww said: ‘O Jibraeel^-as! Who are they?’ He^-as said: ‘They are those who were backbiting the people and talking badly about their honour’’.

وَ عَنْهُ قَالَ: خَطَبَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَذَكَرَ الرِّبَا وَ عَظَّمَ شَأْنَهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الدِّرْهَمَ يُصِيبُهُ الرَّجُلُ مِنَ الرِّبَا أَعْظَمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فِي الْخَطِيئَةِ مِنْ سِتٍّ وَ ثَلَاثِينَ زَنْيَةً يَزْنِيهَا الرَّجُلُ وَ إِنَّ أَرْبَى الرِّبَا عِرْضُ الرَّجُلِ الْمُسْلِمِ

And from him^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww addressed us. He^-saww mentioned the usury (interest) and the grievousness of its affair. He^-saww said: ‘The (one) Dirham a man achieved from the interest is more grievous in the Presence of Allah^-azwj in the sins than thirty-six adulteries adultery a man commits, and the most growth is the honour of the Muslim man.

وَ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى مُوسَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ أَنَّ الْمُغْتَابَ إِذَا تَابَ فَهُوَ آخِرُ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَتُبْ فَهُوَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ.

And Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed to Musa Bin Imran^-as: “The backbiter when he repents, he would be the last one to enter the Paradise, and if he does not repent, he will be the first one to enter the Fire’’.

وَ رُوِيَ‏ أَنَّ عِيسَى ع مَرَّ وَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ عَلَى جِيفَةِ كَلْبٍ فَقَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ مَا أَنْتَنَ رِيحَ هَذَا- فَقَالَ عِيسَى ع مَا أَشَدَّ بَيَاضَ أَسْنَانِهِ كَأَنَّهُ يَنْهَاهُمْ عَنْ غِيبَةِ الْكَلْبِ وَ يُنَبِّهُهُمْ عَلَى أَنَّهُ لَا يُذْكَرُ مِنْ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا أَحْسَنُهُ.

And it is reported that Isa^-as and the disciples passed by a carcass of a dog. The disciples said, ‘How stinky is the smell of this!’ Isa^-as said: ‘How intense is the whiteness of its teeth!’ It is as if he^-as had forbidden them from backbiting the dog and informed them upon that one should not mention any creature of Allah^-azwj except goodly’’.

وَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا رُوِيَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ‏ دَخَلَتْ عَلَيْنَا امْرَأَةٌ فَلَمَّا وَلَّتْ أَوْمَأْتُ بِيَدِي أَيْ قَصِيرَةٌ فَقَالَ ص اغْتَبْتِيهَا.

And from that is what is reported by Ayesha, she said, ‘A woman entered to see us. When she turned around, I gestured by my hand to mean, ‘Short’. So, he^-saww said: ‘You are backbiting her!’’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ الْمُسْتَمِعُ أَحَدُ الْمُغْتَابَيْنِ.

Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The one listening intently is one of the backbiters’’.

وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع‏ السَّامِعُ لِلْغِيبَةِ أَحَدُ الْمُغْتَابَيْنِ.

And Ali^-asws said: ‘The listener of the backbiting is one of the backbiters’’.

وَ قَدْ رُوِيَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص أَنَّهُ قَالَ: مَنْ أُذِلَّ عِنْدَهُ مُؤْمِنٌ وَ هُوَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْصُرَهُ فَلَمْ يَنْصُرْهُ أَذَلَّهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى رُءُوسِ الْخَلَائِقِ.

And it has been reported from the Prophet^-saww having said: ‘One in whose presence a Momin is humiliated and he is able upon helping him, but does not help him, Allah^-azwj will Humiliate him one the Day of Qiyamah upon the heads of people’’.

وَ عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ مَنْ رَدَّ عَنْ عِرْضِ أَخِيهِ بِالْغَيْبِ كَانَ حَقّاً عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يَرُدَّ عَنْ عِرْضِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

And from Abu Al-Darda’a who said, ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘One who defends honour of his brother in the absence, would have a right upon Allah^-azwj that He^-azwj Defends his honour on the Day of Qiyamah’’.

وَ قَالَ أَيْضاً مَنْ رَدَّ عَنْ عِرْضِ أَخِيهِ بِالْغَيْبِ كَانَ حَقّاً عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُعْتِقَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ.

And he^-saww said as well: ‘One who defends honour of his brother in the absence would have a right upon Allah^-azwj to Save him from the Fire’’.

وَ رَوَى الصَّدُوقُ بِإِسْنَادِهِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَنَّهُ قَالَ: مَنْ تَطَوَّلَ عَلَى أَخِيهِ فِي غِيبَةٍ سَمِعَهَا عَنْهُ فِي مَجْلِسٍ فَرَدَّهَا عَنْهُ رَدَّ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَلْفَ بَابٍ مِنَ الشَّرِّ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ إِنْ هُوَ لَمْ يَرُدَّهَا وَ هُوَ قَادِرٌ عَلَى رَدِّهَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ كَوِزْرِ مَنِ اغْتَابَهُ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً.

And it is reported by Al-Sadouq, by his chain to Rasool-Allah^-saww having said: ‘One who forbears upon his brother regarding a backbiting he had heard about him in a gathering, so he repels it away from him, Allah^-azwj will Repel a thousand doors of evil away from him in the world and the Hereafter; and if he does not repel it while he is able upon repelling it, upon him would be like the burden (of sin) of the one who had backbitten him seventy times’’.

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ إِلَى الْبَاقِرِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ: مَنِ اغْتِيبَ عِنْدَهُ أَخُوهُ الْمُؤْمِنُ فَنَصَرَهُ وَ أَعَانَهُ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَنْصُرْهُ وَ لَمْ يَدْفَعْ عَنْهُ وَ هُوَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى نُصْرَتِهِ وَ عَوْنِهِ خَفَضَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ.

And by his chain to Al-Baqir^-asws having said: ‘One in whose present his Momin brother is backbitten, so he helps him and assists him, Allah^-azwj will Help him in the world and the Hereafter; and the one who does not help him and does not defend him while he is able upon helping him and assisting him, Allah^-azwj will Drop him in the world and the Hereafter’’.

وَ قَدْ رُوِيَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص أَنَّهُ قَالَ: مَا النَّارُ فِي الْيُبْسِ بِأَسْرَعَ مِنَ الْغِيبَةِ فِي حَسَنَاتِ الْعَبْدِ.

And it is reported from the Prophet^-saww having said: ‘The fire is not quicker into the dryness than the backbiting is in the good deeds of the servant’’.

وَ ذَكَرَ قَوْلَهُ ص‏ طُوبَى لِمَنْ شَغَلَهُ عَيْبُهُ عَنْ عُيُوبِ النَّاسِ وَ مَهْمَا وَجَدَ عَيْباً فَيَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَسْتَحْيِيَ أَنْ يَتْرُكَ نَفْسَهُ وَ يَذُمَّ غَيْرَهُ بَلْ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَعْلَمَ أَنَّ عَجْزَ غَيْرِهِ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ فِي التَّنَزُّهِ عَنْ ذَلِكَ الْعَيْبِ كَعَجْزِهِ إِنْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ عَيْباً.

And he mentioned his^-saww words: ‘Beatitude is for the one whose own faults pre-occupy him from faulting the (other) people, and whoever were to find a fault, it is befitting that he is embarrassed from leaving himself and condemning others, but it is befitting that he knows that inability of others in being removed from that is like his own inability, if that were to be a fault (in the first place)’’.

وَ قَدْ رُوِيَ‏ أَنَّ هِنْداً قَالَتْ لِلنَّبِيِّ ص إِنَّ أَبَا سُفْيَانَ رَجُلٌ شَحِيحٌ- لَا يُعْطِينِي مَا يَكْفِينِي أَنَا وَ وُلْدِي أَ فَآخُذُ مِنْ غَيْرِ عِلْمِهِ فَقَالَ خُذِي مَا يَكْفِيكِ وَ وُلْدَكِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ فَذَكَرَتِ الشُّحَّ لَهَا وَ لِوُلْدِهَا وَ لَمْ يَزْجُرْهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذْ كَانَ قَصْدُهَا الِاسْتِفْتَاءَ.

And it is reported that Hinda said to the Prophet^-saww, ‘Abu Sufyan is a stingy man. He does not give me what suffices me and my children. Can I take from without his knowledge?’ He^-saww said: ‘Take what suffices you and your children with the moderation’. She mentioned of her and her children’s misery and Rasool-Allah^-saww did not rebuke her when her purpose was the issuance of the verdict.

The Prophet^-saww said: ‘Are you afraid from mentioning the immoral until the people recognise him? Mention him with whatever is in him, the people can be careful of him’’.

وَ قَالَ ص‏ لِفَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ قَيْسٍ حِينَ شَاوَرَتْهُ فِي خُطَّابِهَا أَمَّا مُعَاوِيَةُ فَرَجُلٌ صُعْلُوكٌ لَا مَالَ لَهُ وَ أَمَّا أَبُو جَهْمٍ فَلَا يَضَعُ الْعَصَا عَنْ عَاتِقِهِ.

And he^-saww said to Fatima Bint Qays when she had consulted him regarding her proposers: ‘As for Muawiya, he is a wretched man. There is no wealth for him, and Abu Jahm, he does not place the staff (walking stick) on his shoulders’.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ مَنْ أَلْقَى جِلْبَابَ الْحَيَاءِ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ فَلَا غِيبَةَ لَهُ.

Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The one who casts the robe of modesty away from his face, so there is no backbiting for him’.

مِنْ قَوْلِهِ ص‏ لَا غِيبَةَ لِفَاسِقٍ.

From him^-saww: ‘There is no backbiting of a mischief-maker’’.

And he^-saww said as well: ‘One who defends honour of his brother in the absence would have a right upon Allah^-azwj to Save him from the Fire’’.

And by his chain to Al-Baqir^-asws having said: ‘One in whose presence his Momin brother is backbitten, so he helps him and assists him, Allah^-azwj will Help him in the world and the Hereafter; and the one who does not help him and does not defend him while he is able upon helping him and assisting him, Allah^-azwj will Drop him in the world and the Hereafter’’.

And it is reported from the Prophet^-saww having said: ‘The fire is not quicker into the dryness than the backbiting is in the good deeds of the servant’’.

[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 72 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 65 a

[2] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 72 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 65 b

[3]Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 67

[4] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 67

[5] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 67

[6] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 67

[7] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 6

[8] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 30 H 744

[9] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 1

[10] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 8

[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 9

[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 10

[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 12

[14] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 38 a

[15] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 38 b

[16] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 72 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 66 c

[17] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 72 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 67 b

[18] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 72 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 70 a

[19] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 47

[20] Bihar Al-Anwaar, Vol. 72, H. Ch 66 H 1

[21] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 72 – The book of relationships – Ch 66 H 59

[22] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 67 H 1

[23] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 67

[24] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 71 – The book of relationships – Ch 67