The
Book of the Prohibition of Backbiting.
By Al-Imam An-Nawawi (rahimahullāh)
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;
All the praise and Thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of al-‘ālamīn.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad,
Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Messenger
Allāh Almighty Says :
- "And
backbite not one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead
brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allāh. Verily, Allāh
is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful." [Al-Hujurat 49:12]
- "And
follow not (O man, i.e., say not or do not or witness not) that of which you
have no knowledge. Verily, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each
of those ones will be questioned (by Allāh)." [Al-Isrā’, 17:36]
- "Not
a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record
it)." [Qaf
50:18]
- "And
why, when you heard it, did you not say: 'It is not for us to speak of this.
Exalted are You [O Allāh]; this is a great slander?'" [Al-Nur, 24:16]
- “O you who believe! If a Fāsiq (liar – evil
person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in
ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done.” [Al-Hujurat, 49:6]
- “And why,
when you heard it, did you not say: 'It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted
are You [O Allāh]; this is a great slander?’” [Al-Nur, 24:16]
- “Fitnah is
worse than killing…”
[Al-Baqarah 2:191]
1511. Abu
Hurairah (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported: The Prophet (Sallallāhu
‘alayhi wasallam) said, "He who believes in Allāh and the Last Day must
either speak good or remain silent."
[Muslim].
1512. Abu
Musa Al-Ash’ari (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported: I
asked the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam): "Who is the most excellent among the Muslims?"
He said, "One from whose tongue and
hands the other Muslims are secure."
[Al-Bukhari
and Muslim].
1513. Sahal
bin Sa’ad (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported: The
Messenger of Allāh(Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, "Whosoever gives me
a guarantee to safeguard what is between his jaws and what is between his legs,
I shall guarantee him Jannah."
[Al-Bukhari].
Commentary:
What is between the jaws and what is between the legs refers to the tongue and
the sexual organs, respectively. The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) has
given the assurance of Jannah to every Muslim who protects these two parts of
the body. Protection here means their use permitted by the Islamic Shari'ah.
They should be guarded against every act that is prohibited by the Shari'ah.
1514. Abu
Hurairah (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported: I heard the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi
wasallam) saying, "A person utters a word
thoughtlessly (i.e., without thinking about its being good or not) and, as a
result of this, he will fall down into the fire of Hell deeper than the
distance between the east and the west."
[Al-Bukhari
and Muslim].
Commentary:
This Hadith shows the disadvantages which can be caused by the improper use of
the tongue. It is, therefore, essential that one should think before he speaks.
1515. Abu
Hurairah (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported: The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam)
said, "A man utters a word pleasing to Allāh
without considering it of any significance for which Allāh exalts his ranks (in
Jannah); another one speaks a word displeasing to Allāh without considering it
of any importance, and for this reason he will sink down into Hell."
[Al-Bukhari].
1516. Abu
‘Abdur-Rahman Bilal bin Al-Harith Al-Muzani (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said,
"A man speaks a good word without knowing its worth, Allāh records for him
His Good Pleasure till the day he will meet Him; and a man utters an evil word
without realizing its importance, Allāh records for him His displeasure till
the day he will meet Him."
[Imam
Malik and At-Tirmidzi].
Commentary:
This Hadith tells us a fact which can be observed in our everyday life.
Sometimes a person utters a good sentence which pleases an individual and he
reforms himself or holds himself from doing something wrong. Such a sentence or
utterance is highly rewarded by Allāh. Similarly, sometime a person utters a
mischievous sentence, the ruinous effects of which he does not realize. This
utterance hurts someone's feelings and leads him to sin and evil. Almighty Allāh
is displeased with such a person. The lesson that this Hadith has for us is
that one should strictly guard his speech and weigh his words to avoid Allāh's
Wrath.
1517.
Sufyan bin ‘Abdullah (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported: I asked: "O Messenger of Allāh! Tell me, of something to
which I may remain steadfast." He (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said,
"Say: My Rabb is Allāh and then remain steadfast." Then I said:
"O Messenger of Allāh! What do you fear most about me?" He (Sallallāhu
‘alayhi wasallam) took hold of his own tongue and said: "This."
[At-Tirmidzi].
Commentary:
Faith in Allāh and all His Attributes is the basis of all virtuous deeds. No
act or deed is acceptable by Allāh without this faith, "and then remain
steadfast" means to comply with what Allāh has ordained and to keep away
from what He has forbidden so that one can win over His Pleasure. Every Muslim
is required to guard his speech strictly because even the slightest
carelessness on this account can cause Allāh's displeasure.
1518. Ibn
‘Umar (May Allāh be pleased with them) reported: The
Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, "Do not indulge in
excessive talk except when remembering Allāh. Excessive talking without the
Remembrance of Allāh hardens the heart; and those who are the farthest from Allāh
are those whose hearts are hard."
[At-Tirmidzi]
Commentary:
The hardening of the heart is a condition where one neither learns any lesson
from Allāh's Signs nor does one accept anyone's good advice and religious
preaching. If one indulges in idle talk rather than the remembrance of Allāh,
his heart becomes hardened, which is a sign of being far from Allāh's Mercy.
One should therefore occupy himself with the remembrance of Allāh.
1519. Abu
Hurairah (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported: The Messenger
of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, "He whom Allāh saves from the
evil of that which is between his jaws and the evil of that which is between
his legs will enter Jannah."
[At-Tirmidzi].
1520. ‘Uqbah
bin ‘Amir (radiyallāhu’anhu) said: I asked the
Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam), "How can salvation be
achieved?" He replied, "Control your tongue, keep to your house, and
weep over your sins."
[At-Tirmidzi].
Commentary:
It is better for one to spends his surplus time at home in the remembrance of Allāh,
the recitation of the Qur'an and the performance of acts of obedience, if one
feels unable to benefit others or if one fears that he, as well as his religion
will not be safe if one mixes with others. Allāh greatly likes it that one
repents of his own sins and weeps over them.
1521. Abu
Sa’id Al-Khudri (radiyallāhu’anhu) said: The
Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, "When the son of Adam gets up
in the morning, all the limbs humble themselves before the tongue and say:
'Fear Allāh for our sake because we are with you: (i.e., we will be rewarded or
punished as a result of what you do) if you are straight, we will be straight;
and if you are crooked, we will become crooked."'
[At-Tirmidzi].
Commentary:
This Hadith shows the importance of guarding one's tongue against that which is
prohibited. Even the slightest carelessness on the part of the tongue can make
all the organs suffer for it.
Crookedness
of the tongue means the careless use of the tongue which lands the whole body
in trouble; and keeping the tongue straight means keeping oneself safe from all
kinds of troubles and ordeals.
1522. Mu’adz
bin Jabal (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported: I asked the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu
‘alayhi wa sallam): "Inform me of an act which
will cause me to enter Jannah and keep me far from Hell." He (Sallallāhu
‘alayhi wasallam) replied, "You have asked me
about a matter of great importance, but it is easy for one for whom Allāh makes
it easy." He added, "Worship Allāh,
associate nothing with Him in worship, offer As-Solat (the prayer), pay the
Zakat, observe Saum (fasting) during Ramadhān and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to
the House of Allāh, if you can afford it." He (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) further said, "Shall I not guide
you to the gates of goodness? Fasting is a screen (from Hell), charity
extinguishes (i.e., removes) the sins as water extinguishes fire, and standing
in prayers by a slave of Allāh during the last third part of the night."
Then he (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) recited: "Their sides forsake their
beds, to invoke their Rabb in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allāh's
Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what is kept
hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do." (As-Sajdah 32:17,18)
Then he (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) added, "Shall I tell you of the root
of the matter, its pillar and its highest point?" I replied: "Yes!
Certainly, O Prophet of Allāh." He (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said,
"The root of this matter (foundation) is Islam, its pillar (mainstay is)
As-Solat (the prayer) and its highest point is Jihad (fighting in the Cause of Allāh)."
Then he (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) asked,
"Shall I tell you of that which holds all these things?" I said:
"Yes, O Messenger of Allāh." So
he (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) took hold of his tongue and said, "Keep
this in control." I asked: "O Messenger of Allāh! Shall we really be
accounted for what we talk about?" He (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) replied,
"May your mother lose you! People will be thrown on their faces into the
Hell on account of their tongues."
Commentary:
Besides describing Articles of Islam, this Hadith mentions the dangers which
lie in the careless use of the tongue. All good actions can go waste if one
does not guard his speech. One should, therefore, guard his tongue against that
which Allāh has made prohibited.
1523. Abu
Hurairah (radiyallāhu’anhu) said: The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi
wasallam) said, "Do you know what is
backbiting?" The Companions said: "Allāh and His Messenger know
better." Thereupon he (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, "Backbiting
is talking about your (Muslim) brother in a manner which he dislikes." It
was said to him: "What if my (Muslim) brother is as I say." He (Sallallāhu
‘alayhi wasallam) said, "If he is actually as you say, then that is
backbiting; but if that is not in him, that is slandering."
[Muslim].
Commentary:
This Hadith elaborates the meaning of backbiting and calumny and points out the
difference between the two along with the evils of each one of them. Both these
evils are mischief of the tongue and entail great troubles. May Allāh save us
from both.
1524. Abu
Bakrah (radiyallāhu’anhu) said: Delivering the sermon during the Farewell
Pilgrimage on the day of Sacrifice at Mina, the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu
‘alayhi wasallam) said, "Verily your blood,
your property and your honour are as sacred and inviolable as the sanctity of
this day of yours, in this month of yours and in this town of yours. Verily! I
have conveyed this message to you."
[Al-Bukhari
and Muslim]
Commentary:
This Hadith tells us that the tenth day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, and the
city of Makkah are sacred. Similar is the case of blood, property and honour of
a Muslim to another Muslim. In other words, a Muslim should neither kill
another without any lawful reason nor should he usurp his property nor should
he disgrace him. Since backbiting is also a kind of tyranny which defames a
person, it should be strictly avoided.
1525. ‘Aishah
(radiyallāhu’anha) said: I said to the Prophet (Sallallāhu
`alayhi wa sallam): "Such and such thing of Safiyyah (radiyallāhu`anha) is
sufficient for you." (She means to say that she was a woman with a short
stature). He said, "You have indeed
uttered a word which would pollute the sea if it were mixed in it."
She further said: I imitated a person before him and he said, "I do not
like that I should imitate someone even (if I am paid) in return such and
such."
[Abu
Dawud and At-Tirmidzi].
Commentary:
In Arabic, the word "Muhakat" is often used for
imitating someone's defect or deformity, etc. Every imitation of this kind also
amounts to backbiting. This is the reason the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi
wasallam) used the analogy stated in this Hadith when 'Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha)
said that Safiyyah (radiyallāhu`anha) was short-statured. Imam An-Nawawi
regarded this analogy as based on Wahy and supported his contention by the Verse
of the Qur'an: "Nor does he speak of (his own)
desire. It is only a Revelation revealed."
Thus, it
is evident from this Hadith that to speak of somebody in a scornful manner or
ridicule someone's physical defect, or to imitate someone's deformity, or talk
disparagingly about someone, is a great offense which should be avoided by
every Muslim.
1526.
Anas bin Malik (radiyallāhu’anhu) said: The
Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said, "During the Mi'raj
(the Night of Ascension), I saw a group of people who were scratching their
chests and faces with their copper nails. I asked, 'Who are these people, O Jibril?'
Jibril replied: 'These are the people
who ate flesh of others (by backbiting) and trampled people's honour."'
[Abu
Dawud].
Commentary:
"These are the people who ate flesh of others" is a metaphor for
backbiting. "To trample people's honour" is akin to harming their
goodwill and honour. The punishment for these things mentioned in Hadith makes
their seriousness obvious.
1527. Abu
Hurairah (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported: The Messenger
of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: "The blood, honour and property of a Muslim is inviolable for
another Muslim."
[Muslim].
Commentary:
This Hadith also makes it clear that a Muslim is bound to protect his blood,
wealth and honour and it is not lawful for any Muslim to attack another
Muslim's honour and property. Nor is it lawful for him to kill another Muslim
without a valid reason.
And Allāh
Almighty Knows best.
[The
Book of the Prohibition of Backbiting, Chapter # 254, Riyad-Us-Saliheen, Compiled by Al-Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin
Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi]
