Backbiting in Islam
Backbiting (Ghibah) in Islam
Meaning, Ruling, Causes,Backbiting Non-Muslims, Cure, and Cases Where Backbiting is Permissible
Abdulaziz Alsuhaim
Professor: Mohammed Abderrazzaq
ARAB 4800 - Spring 2014
3/18/2014
Backbiting, according to Oxford Dictionary is “Malicious talk about someone who is not present.” It originated from the improper attack from the back in the sport of bearbaiting(1). The word in Arabic is pronounced as “Ghibah.” Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) defined Gibah as “Your mentioning your brother with something about him that he dislikes.” Islam considers backbiting as one of the major sins that a muslim person must not commit (2).This paper will cover reasons why it is prohibited, causes, backbiting non muslims, cure, and cases in which backbiting is permissible.
Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) once said, to signify the wrongfulness of backbiting:
“Whoever backbites a Muslim spoils his fasts and breaks his wudu ', and shall come on the Day of Resurrection with his mouth 's stench more putrid than a carcass ... If he dies before repenting, his death is like that of one who dies while considering permissible that which is prohibited by God (3).”
There are two main reasons why Islam prohibits backbiting:
1. Islam prohibits backbiting because it emphasizes on protecting people 's rights and feelings. Gibah could violates people 's rights and hurt their feelings; therefore, it is a serious sin.
2. Because of the fact that it is easy to commit, people usually disregard it and might feel that it is insignificant (2).
Listening to backbiting is also considered a sin and sometimes the listener might be considered as a sinner a well, being in the same position of the backbiter. The messenger (PBUH) said in regards to that that “the listener is one of the two backbiters.” A person could be more sinful if he expresses his interest in the backbiter’s talk. In other words, saying something like “wow,” “Astaghfirullah” or “I didn’t know he would do
Meaning, Ruling, Causes,Backbiting Non-Muslims, Cure, and Cases Where Backbiting is Permissible
Abdulaziz Alsuhaim
Professor: Mohammed Abderrazzaq
ARAB 4800 - Spring 2014
3/18/2014
Backbiting, according to Oxford Dictionary is “Malicious talk about someone who is not present.” It originated from the improper attack from the back in the sport of bearbaiting(1). The word in Arabic is pronounced as “Ghibah.” Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) defined Gibah as “Your mentioning your brother with something about him that he dislikes.” Islam considers backbiting as one of the major sins that a muslim person must not commit (2).This paper will cover reasons why it is prohibited, causes, backbiting non muslims, cure, and cases in which backbiting is permissible.
Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) once said, to signify the wrongfulness of backbiting:
“Whoever backbites a Muslim spoils his fasts and breaks his wudu ', and shall come on the Day of Resurrection with his mouth 's stench more putrid than a carcass ... If he dies before repenting, his death is like that of one who dies while considering permissible that which is prohibited by God (3).”
There are two main reasons why Islam prohibits backbiting:
1. Islam prohibits backbiting because it emphasizes on protecting people 's rights and feelings. Gibah could violates people 's rights and hurt their feelings; therefore, it is a serious sin.
2. Because of the fact that it is easy to commit, people usually disregard it and might feel that it is insignificant (2).
Listening to backbiting is also considered a sin and sometimes the listener might be considered as a sinner a well, being in the same position of the backbiter. The messenger (PBUH) said in regards to that that “the listener is one of the two backbiters.” A person could be more sinful if he expresses his interest in the backbiter’s talk. In other words, saying something like “wow,” “Astaghfirullah” or “I didn’t know he would do
Cited: 1. "Definition of Backbiting in English:." Oxford Dictionaries. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. 2. "كفارة الغيبة." Islam Question and Answer. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. . 3."In a Nutshell: Diseases of the Soul." Al-Islam. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. . 4. "The Rules of Backbiting." Qibla. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. . 5. "Backbiting about Non-Muslims." Islam Question and Answer. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. .