speech
What is Backbiting?
أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْغِيبَةُ؟ قَالُوا: اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ: ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ. قِيلَ: أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ فِي أَخِي مَا أَقُولُ؟ قَالَ: إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدِ اغْتَبْتَهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ
Transliteration
Atadūna mal-ghība? Qālū: Allāhu wa rasūluhu a'lam. Qāla: Dhikruka akhāka bimā yakrah. Qīla: Afara'ayta in kāna fī akhī mā aqūl? Qāla: In kāna fīhi mā taqūlu faqad ightabtahu, wa in lam yakun fīhi faqad bahattah
Translation
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: "Do you know what is backbiting?" They (the Companions) said: Allah and His Messenger know best. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: "Backbiting implies your talking about your brother in a manner which he does not like." It was said to him: What is your opinion if I actually find (that failing) in my brother which I made mention of? He said: "If (that failing) is actually found (in him) what you assert, you in fact backbited him, and if that is not in him it is a slander."
Practice This Today
If a conversation turns to criticising someone absent, gently change the subject.
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