Backbiting
It is
natural for us to look for mistakes and faults in others in order to
make ourselves feel better and powerful. Many people may not realize
that backbiting is a sin. It is related that the Prophet said:
“Backbiting means that you
say about your brother something which pains him.”
Before
speaking ill of others ask yourselves these two questions:
“Would I want someone
revealing my faults?” and
“Would I be saying these
things if that person were here in front of me?”
Remember the old proverb that
we have read and heard many times: “Do not unto others what you do not
want others to do unto you.” Treat others how you want to be treated.
According to the Holy Koran, when you backbite it is as if you are
eating the flesh of your dead brother. (Koran 9:12)
There are many causes for
committing backbiting, and because of this a man commits it sometimes
knowingly and sometimes unknowingly. When one wants to belittle a person
from whom it is feared that he will expose some fault of one’s. Rather
than involving yourself with others, who are committing backbiting,
spend that time thanking God that you are not a part of the group.
God did not put us on this
earth to judge others, but to be judged by him. There are certain
instances where you may speak about someone and it is not considered as
backbiting. Few examples would be
To relate the dishonesty
committed by someone with a view to saving a Muslim from sin, would not
be backbiting.
If the life, property, or
honour of someone can be protected only by informing of a fault it would
not be backbiting.
If for some reason you need
to share a story with a friend about someone else do not mention any
names. That story you are sharing may help your friend from committing
the same sin.
So let
us not forget the above proverb and treat others how we would like to be
treated. |