Friday, March 12, 2010

When People Speak

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

When people mention others they may commit one of these four: Gheebah, Buhtaan, Ifk, or Nameemah and all are mentioned in the Book of Allaah. Gheebah (backbiting) is to say what is true about a person. Buhtaan (slandering) is to say what is not true about a person. And Ifk (rumoring) is to say what was conveyed to you. Nameemah (gossiping) is to stir enmity between friends.

1.       Gheebah: Backbiting – is to say what is true about a person.

“O you who Believe! Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful.” (Surah Al-Hujuaraat (49): 12)

Narrated Abu Hurayrah: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Do you know what is backbiting?” They (the Companions) said: Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم know best. Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: “Backbiting implies your talking about your brother in a manner which he does not like.” It was said to him: What is your opinion about this that if I actually find (that failing) in my brother which I made a mention of? He said: “If (that failing) is actually found (in him) what you assert, you in fact backbited him, and if that is not in him it is a slander.” (Muslim)



2.       Buhtaan: Slandering – is to say what is not true about a person.

“And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, they bear (on themselves) the crime of slander and plain sin.” (Surah Al-Ahzaab (33): 58)

“And whoever earns a fault or a sin and then throws it on to someone innocent, he has indeed burdened himself with slander and a manifest sin.” (Surah Al-Nisaa’ (4): 112)

Narrated Abu Hurayrah: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Do you know what is backbiting?” They (the Companions) said: Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم know best. Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: “Backbiting implies your talking about your brother in a manner which he does not like.” It was said to him: What is your opinion about this that if I actually find (that failing) in my brother which I made a mention of? He said: “If (that failing) is actually found (in him) what you assert, you in fact backbited him, and if that is not in him it is a slander.” (Muslim)



3.   Ifk: Rumors – is to say what was conveyed to you. Rumors are false tales that one spreads without knowing the reality.

“Verily, those who brought forth the Ifk (slander against 'Aishah [radhi-yAllâhu 'anhaa]   the wife of the Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]) are a group among you… Why then did not the believers, men and women, when you heard it (the slander), think good of their own people and say: "This (charge) is ifk (an obvious lie)?"…” (Surah Al-Noor (24): 11–20)

Narrated Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “It is sufficient that a man has lied who narrates everything that he hears.” (Muslim in the introduction to his Saheeh)



4.       Nameemah: Gossiping – is to stir enmity between friends.

“And (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) obey you not every Hallâf Mahîn (the one who swears much and is a liar or is worthless). A Hammaz (slanderer), going about with Nameem (calumnies); Hinderer of the good, transgressor, sinful; Cruel, and moreover baseborn (of illegitimate birth).” (Surah Al-Qalam (68): 10-13)

Ibn `Abbas said, The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم once passed by two graves and he said, “Verily, these two are being punished, and they are not being punished for something major. One of them was not careful about protecting himself from urine (when relieving himself). The other one used to spread Nameemah (calumnies).” (Bukhari & Muslim)

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Shall I tell you about the most evil ones from amongst you?” They said, “Of course.” He said, “Those who go around with Nameemah. They make enmity between friends and they seek problems for the innocent.” (Ahmad and Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad)

Narrated Hudhaifah, The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “A Nammaam (gossip monger) will never enter paradise.” (Muslim)

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