Sunnats and Aadaab of Rendering Service to People – Part 13

1. If you are present in a gathering where gheebah of a Muslim takes place or a Muslim is slandered, then you should express your disapproval over the wrong and stop the people of the gathering from their sin of gheebah and slander. If you are unable to do so, then you should leave the gathering. Your leaving the gathering will be a sign of your disapproval.

وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ  (حجرات:12)

And do not engage in backbiting among yourselves. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would abhor it.

عن أبي هريرة، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: أتدرون ما الغيبة؟ قالوا: الله ورسوله أعلم، قال: ذكرك أخاك بما يكره قيل أفرأيت إن كان في أخي ما أقول؟ قال: إن كان فيه ما تقول، فقد اغتبته، وإن لم يكن فيه فقد بهته (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 2589)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked, “Do you know what is gheebah?” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) replied, “Allah Ta‘ala and His messenger know best.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Speaking about your brother (in his absence) of that which he would dislike.” A Sahaabi asked, “What if what I am saying is (true and) found in my brother (then too will it be gheebah)?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “If what you say regarding him is (true and) found in him, then you have backbit him, and if what you mention regarding him is not found in him, then you have slandered him.”

وعن جابر وأبي طلحة رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ما من امرئ يخذل امرأ مسلما في موضع تنتهك فيه حرمته وينتقص فيه من عرضه إلا خذله الله في موطن يحب فيه نصرته وما من امرئ ينصر مسلما في موضع ينتقص فيه من عرضه وينتهك فيه من حرمته، إلا نصره الله في موطن يحب نصرته (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 4884)

Hazrat Jaabir and Hazrat Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) report that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Whichever person forsakes a Muslim in a place where his respect is being violated and his reputation is being tarnished, Allah Ta‘ala will forsake him on the occasion when he would greatly hope and desire for Allah Ta‘ala’s help (whether in this world or in the aakhirah). And whosoever helps a Muslim in such a place where his reputation is being tarnished and his respect is being violated, Allah Ta‘ala will help him on the occasion when he would greatly hope and desire for Allah Ta‘ala’s help (whether in this world or in the aakhirah).”