Image culled from BBC
Backbiting is to speak badly about someone in his absence. Backbiting is one of the great sins in Islam and Qur’an made an example of backbiters to someone who eat the flesh of their dead brother.
Allah says: O you who believe! Avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others.
Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft- Returning (to mercy), Merciful (49:12)”.
The Prophet(saw) says: Do you know what is backbiting? It is to mention things that your brother dislikes…
To mention things that are really found in the personality of your brother is backbiting. To mention things that are not found in the personality of your brother is slander.
When somebody backbites about other people, it cause to destroy their honor when they are absent. Islam’s morality does not allow people to destroy other’s honor when they are absent and in fact want to keep their honor safe!
The Holy Prophet (saw) said: Everyone who backbites a man or a woman believer, God does not accept his prayers and fasting for forty days and nights unless the victim pardons him.
Backbiting is not only a great sin to the teller, but also to the listener. He said: Everyone who listens to backbiting, is one of the backbiters.
Backbiting, leads to character assassination. Character assassination is as a result of unhealthy rivalry.
Unhealthy rivalry, is when you feel threatened by other’s success, achievements, fame and popularity. Unhealthy rivalry, takes away ones peace of mind, because you don’t want to see, read or hear about other’s success.
The world is an ephemeral place, with very short time to spend. Spend your time wisely and receive the news about other’s success in good spirit.
There is nothing worth do or die in the world. Do you best and leave the rest. No matter what you achieved or acquired in the world, you will surely leave it one day, whether you like or not. Whatever missed you, could not have hit you, and whatever hit you, could not have missed you.
Gani Olamiji Oyebanjo Writes from Kosofe