Chapter Four (cont.)

Golden Advice Series 04 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", "he is black", "he is yellow." 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 is lenient with impurities", "he does not behave well towards his parents", "he does not pay the Zakaah duly", and "he does not avoid backbiting." As for the worldly matters, then it is when you say: "he has poor manners", "he is unmindful of people", "he does not think that anyone has a right over him", "he talks too much", "he eats and sleeps too much", "he sleeps at the wrong times", "he sits in places he does not belong in." As for those matters connected with one's parents, then it is when you say: "his father is a sinner", "an Indian", "a Nabatean", "a Negro", "a loafer", "a seedsman", "a cattle dealer", "a carpenter", "a blacksmith", "a weaver." As for his character, then it is when you say: "he has bad manners", "he is arrogant", "he is quarrelsome", "he is rash and hasty", "he is tyrannical", "he is feeble", "he has a weak heart", "he is irresponsible", "he is dismal", "he is dissolute", etc. As for the garment: "it has wide sleeves", "it has short hems", "what a filthy garment", and so on. 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." lmaam Abu Haamid AI-Ghazaalee .&1 ;J-.J quoted the consensus of the Muslim scholars with regard to backbiting being: "One is mentioning something about other people (in their absence), which they hate to have mentioned." The authentic Guarding the Tongue hadith clarifying this will be stated later. As for Gossiping (Nameemah), then 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 evidences in the Qur'aan, the Sunnah and the consensus of the Ummah indicate its prohibition. Allaah ~ says: "And do not backbite one another." [AI-Hujuraat (49): 12] And He says: "Woe to every slanderer and backbiter!' [AI-Humazah (104): 1] And He ~ says: "A slanderer going about with gossip.'' [AI-Qalam (68): 11] Hudhayfah ~ reported that the Prophet ~ said: ~L:i U1 ,1i1; '1 i . u ~ "The one who spreads gossip (Namaam) will not enter Paradise."I19J (19) Bukhaaree. Golden Advice Series 04 lbn 'Abbaas ~ reported that Allaah's Messenger ~ once passed by two graves and said: 0l5 4~)) : JL; ~ 4((d ~ ~~~ t;j ~~~)) ((~'u ~o , ~,:')\ 0l5' 4J , ~ _;:o , ':J ~..b-i , _, ; ~ ? .J ,,Y. ~ ~ "Verily, they (occupants of graves) are both being tormented and they are not being tormented for something major." (In the report from AI-Bukhaaree, it states:) "Rather, it is indeed not something major. As for the first one, then he used to go around spreading gossip {Nameemah) and as for the other, then he used not to protect himself from his own urine."f.201 The scholars say the meaning of "and they are not being tormented for something major" is "something major" according to their opinion or "something major" for them to have abandoned doing. Abu Hurayrah ~ reported that Allaah's Messenger ~ once said (to his Companions): "Do you know what backbiting is?" They said: "Allaah and His Messenger know best." He said: !!~~ ~ ~l:;.f ~j~n "Your mentioning something about your brother (in his absence) that he hates (to have mentioned)." It was said: "What if there exists in my brother, that which I say (of him)?" He said: (20] Bukhaaree. Guarding the Tongue "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.'1211 Abu Bakrah ~ reported that Allaah's Messenger ~ said in his sermon on the day of Sacrifice, during his farewell pilgrimage: ~~ f 1_;. ~ Fi_;,_, ~1_,;i_, r1~lA~ 0~)) "Verily, your blood, your wealth and your honour are sacred for you, just as this day of yours is sacred, in this land of yours, in this month of yours. Have I not conveyed?''f.221 'Aa'ishah ~ narrated: "I said to the Prophet :i: 'You are more than Safiyyah by such-and-such.' {Some of the narrators said it meant that she was short). So he said: ,./j-J/ ~·/·1 ~ / , _,J/ ~~ _ 1~ 0.::1 ((.i..::.:>-· • ~....1.Q.J)) . .