Ramadan Mubarak!! I started to try making a blog post on my phone and just isn't the same as making a blog post on my laptop. It is easier to add pictures to the post from my phone though, which is really nice. But I had to come back to my laptop to finish this post because it is easier. Chapter 2 is a bit longer than Chapter 1 so I am going to separate it into two posts, for easier reading on the eyes.
I have this book, Guarding the Tongue, from the book Al-Adhkaar. It is the 4th book of The Golden Advice Series from DARUSSALAM PUBLICATIONS, that I have been and will be reading during Ramadan besides the Quran and any other Islamic books inshallah. My idea is to post a little from the book that I learned and I want to share, from each chapter each week inshallah. There are four chapters along with three appendixes, so there should be plenty of things to share about inshallah.
"Guard your tongue O mankind
And do not let it bite you, for indeed it is a snake
How many people in the graveyards are there, who were killed by their tongues
Whoever fears meeting Him (on the Day of Judgement) is truly the brave one."
{Al-Usool Wa Al-Futuhaat Ar-Rabaaniyyah}
Know that these two matters are from the vilest and most despicable of things, yet the most widely spread amongst mankind, such that no one is free from them except for a few people.
Backbitting (Gheebah), it is when you mention something about a person (in his absence), that he hates (to have mentioned), whether it is about his body, his religious characteristics, his worldly affairs, his self, his physical appearance, his character, his wealth, his child, his father, his wife, his servant, his slave, his turban, his attire, his manner of walking, his smile, his dissoluteness, his frowning, his cheerfulness or anything else related to the above. Likewise, it is the same whether you mention that about him with words, through writings, or whether you point or indicate him by gesturing with your eyes, hand or head. (That is something to think about huh?)
As for the body, then it is when you say: “he is blind”, “he limps", "he is bleary-eyed", "he is bald", "he is short", "he is tall", etc.
As for his religious qualities, then it is when you say: "he is a sinner", "he is a thief", "he is a betrayer", "he is an oppressor", "he takes the prayer lightly"," he does not avoid backbiting", etc.
As for the worldly matters then it is when you say: "he has poor manners", "he is unmindful of people", "he talks too much", "he eats and sleeps too much", "he sits in places he does not belong in", etc.
As for those matters connected with one’s parents, then it is when you say: "his father is a sinner", "a loafer", "a blacksmith", "an Indian", "a Nabatean", etc.
As for his character, then it is when you say: "he has bad manners", "he is arrogant", "he is quarrelsome", "he is irresponsible", "he is dismal", etc.
The remaining categories can be deduced based upon what we have mentioned, considering that the source rule behind it is: “Mentioning some aspect about him that he hates to have mentioned.”
Gossiping (Nameemah), it is when one conveys and carries the talk of people from one group of individuals to another with the intent of causing discord between the two of them.
These are the definitions of the two. As for their rulings, then they are forbidden according to the unanimous agreement of the Muslim scholars. The clear evidence in the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Ummah indicate its prohibition.
Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:
“And do not backbite one another.” [Al-Hujuraat (49):12]
And He says:
“Woe to every slanderer and backbiter.” [Al-Humazah (104):1]
And He (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:
“A slanderer going about with gossip.” [Al-Qalam (68):11]
Hudhayfah (radiallahu ‘anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wassallam) said:
“The one who spreads gossip (Namaam) will not enter Paradise.” [Bukhaaree]
Abu Hurayrah (radiallahu ‘anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wassallam) once said (to his Companions):
“Do you know what backbiting is?”
They said: “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said:
“Your mentioning something about your brother (in his absence) that he hates (to have mentioned).”
It was said: “What is there exists in my brother, that which I say (of him)?” He said:
“If there is found in him what you say, then you have backbitten him. And if there is not found in him what you say, then you have slandered him.” [Muslim]
“And he (the Prophet) does not speak from his own desire. Rather, it is only Revelation revealed (to him).” [An-Najm (53): 3-4]
We ask Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), the Most Generous, for His kindness and forgiveness from all detestable acts (ameen!!)
Anas (radiallahu ‘anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wassallam) said:
“When I was ascended (to the heavens), I came across a people that had nails made of brass, with which they were scratching their faces and chests. So I said: ‘Who are these people, O Jibreel?’ He said: ‘They are the ones who eat the flesh of people*and dishonor them.’” [Ahmad]
*This is a reference to backbiting, since Allah likens it to eating a human’s flesh in His saying:
“And do not backbite one another! Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would surely hate it! [Al-Hujuraat (49):12]
Abu Hurayrah (radiallahu ‘anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) said:
“A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. He does not betray him, nor does he lie to him, nor does he forsake him. All of the Muslim (to another) Muslim is sacred-his honor, his wealth, and his blood. Taqwaa (fear and obedience to Allah) is right here (pointing to his chest). It is enough evil for a person to look down upon his fellow Muslim.” [Tirmidhee]
At-Tirmidhee said it was a Hasan Hadeeth. I (the author, not me) say that there is no Hadeeth greater in advantage and more numerous in points of benefit than this Hadeeth. And with Allah (subhanahu wa ta’alah) lies the success.