The meaning of backbiting and slander is: 'Describing someone's evil in his absence.' If that evil is present in him then it is known as backbiting and if that evil is not present in him, then it is called slander. Slander is a much bigger sin than backbiting. Expressing someone's faults in front of him is known as taunt. It is also forbidden to taunt and make fun of someone.
Falsely accusing someone is also slander. It is also called accusation. To slander someone is a great sin sinording to Islamic judicial system. Those who slander are entitled to a punishment of eighty lashes in Islam.
Taunting or backbiting about someone on the basis of physical or practical weakness, color, race, family or profession is a great sin. Allah is the creator of all. When someone is being mocked on the basis of physical weakness, color or race, then it is in fact an objection on the creation of Allah Almighty. For this reason, in the Holy Quran, severe punishment has been declared for the one who slanders and backbites.
Allah says:
Translation:
''Woe to every backbiter, derider.'' (Surah Al-Humazah: 1)
Allah Almighty has forbidden backbiting in the Holy Quran and compared it with eating the flesh of dead brother.
Allah says:
Translation:
''And do not backbite one another. Does one of you like that he eats the flesh of his dead brother? You would abhor it.'' (Surah Al-Hujurat: 12)
In the Holy Quran, the most severe example is that of backbiting, as it is a sin that causes much moral defects in the society.
Prophet Muhammad said:
''Do not backbite Muslims, and do not search for their faults, for if anyone searches for their faults, Allah will search for his fault, and if Allah searches for the fault of anyone, He disgraces him in his house.'' (Sunan Abi-Dawood: 4880)
Once the Holy Prophet passed by two graves, He said:
''They are being punished. One of them is being punished because he did not take care of purity while urinating, and the other is being punished because of backbiting.'' (Sunan Ibn Majah: 349)
Backbiting is the habit of coward and useless people. Brave people stay away from disease like backbiting. The personality of the backbiter suffers from deterioration and the faults which he is keen to find in others, develop in his own personality. One way to avoid backbiting is that we should check our tongue and remain careful while speaking. We should have the conviction in our hearts that on the Day of Judgment, we shall be held accountable for our words and actions. Whatever word we utter is recorded.
Allah Almighty says:
Translation:
''Not a single word is uttered by one but there is a watcher near him, ready (to record).'' (Surah Qaf: 18)
To avoid backbiting, we should avoid the company of those who are engaged in backbiting and describing the evils of others. Hate and enmity arises in the society due to backbiting and slander. Hate arises in hearts for each other. Nowadays, many people are in the grip of the terrible calamity of backbiting. The houses have become a battlefield today because of this sin. The ugly wall of hatred have arisen in families, neighbourhoods and markets. We must avoid that sin. Neither should we backbite nor should we hear it. In this way, our time will be saved, our heart will be at peace, hatred for others will not reside in our heart, we will also be protected from the punishment of the hereafter.
