Punishment for Backbiters or Slanderers.
The Quran condemns backbiting and slander as serious sins, emphasizing the importance of avoiding such behavior and its harmful consequences. Verses like Surah Al-Hujurat (49:12) and Surah An-Nur (24:23) specifically address this, highlighting the need to verify information, avoid suspicion, and refrain from speaking ill of others.
Here's a breakdown of the Quranic perspective:
وَيْلٌۭ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍۢ لُّمَزَةٍ ١ٱلَّذِى جَمَعَ مَالًۭا وَعَدَّدَهُۥ ٢يَحْسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُۥٓ أَخْلَدَهُۥ ٣كَلَّا ۖ لَيُنۢبَذَنَّ فِى ٱلْحُطَمَةِ ٤وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْحُطَمَةُ ٥
نَارُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمُوقَدَةُ ٦ٱلَّتِى تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى ٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةِ ٧إِنَّهَا عَلَيْهِم مُّؤْصَدَةٌۭ ٨
Woe to every backbiter, slanderer,who amasses wealth ˹greedily˺ and counts it ˹repeatedly˺,thinking that their wealth will make them immortal!Not at all! Such a person will certainly be tossed into the Crusher.And what will make you realize what the Crusher is?˹It is˺ Allah’s kindled Fire,which rages over the hearts.It will be sealed over them,
[Surah Al-Humazah (104:1-9)]
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| (Ayat 1-5] |
This chapter, titled "The Backbiter" or "The Slanderer," directly addresses those who indulge in backbiting and slander, describing them as those who pile up wealth and believe it will make them immortal, ultimately warning that they will be thrown into "the Crusher".
[Surah Al-Hujurat (49:12)]
This verse urges believers to avoid suspicion, backbiting, and spying on one another. It uses the analogy of eating the flesh of one's dead brother to illustrate the repulsive nature of backbiting;
Surely those who accuse chaste, unsuspecting,1 believing women are cursed in this life and the Hereafter. And they will suffer a tremendous punishment
Surah An-Nur (24:23)
General condemnation:
The Quran consistently condemns backbiting and slander as harmful acts that damage individuals and communities. It encourages Muslims to verify information, avoid suspicion, and speak kindly to one another.
The Quranic perspective on backbiting and slander is clear: it is a serious sin with severe consequences, both in this life and the hereafter. It emphasizes the importance of ethical communication, verifying information, and treating others with respect and kindness.
Hadrat ‘Ala b. Harith narrates that the Prophet of ‘God (peace and blessings of Allah be upon _ him) observed : ‘‘Those who accuse the innocent and those who go about backbiting, both classes of people shall be treated like dogs. (Abul Shaikh).
2. Hadrat Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) states that the Holy Prophet (peace and _ blessings of Allah be upon him) observed. that on the night of his visit to the heaven he saw a nation eating corpses and &, dead animals. He enquired : ‘“‘Who are these people ?”’ The Prophet was informed : ‘These are the people who used to eat the flesh of others 7.¢. they backbited others.”
3. Hadrat Anas reported that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) during his ascension to heaven saw some people scratching their faces and breasts with their nails. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) enquired : ‘‘Who are these people?” Gabriel (peace be upon him) submitted in reply: ‘These are the people who used to eat the flesh of others. who backbited and brought calumnies against others.”’ (Abu Dawud)
In a tradition reported by Hadrat Rashid b. Sa‘d it is related that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be. upon him) observed: “I saw some people who were hanging by the breasts.” I enquired : ‘These people are those who found faults with others and brought calumnies against them.” (Ahmad).
5, Hadrat Jabir b. ‘Abdullah relates : ‘‘We were in the company of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) while a blow of foulsmelling wind came towards us,” The Holy Prophet observed : ‘Do you know what sort of a wind is this? This wind carries the foul smell of those who accuse the faithful behind their back.” (Ahmad, Ibn Abi Dunya).
6. Hadrat Abu Sa‘id (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hadrat Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) report a tradition that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed : ‘‘Backbiting is worse than adultery. Adultery is excused after penitence ¢ but backbiting cannot be excused until the person who has been maligned excuses the backbiter.
Further to the above lets dive into indepth understanding of those sins.
In Islam, both backbiting (Ghibah) and slander (Buhtan) are considered major sins with severe punishments in this life and the hereafter. They are prohibited because they breed hatred, mistrust, and division within the community.
The punishment for backbiting (Ghibah)
Backbiting is speaking about a person in their absence with something they would dislike, even if the statement is true. The punishments include:
Likened to eating the flesh of a dead brother: The Quran condemns backbiting with a vivid and repulsive analogy to highlight its gravity. The Quran states, "Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it" (49:12).
Loss of good deeds: On the Day of Judgment, a backbiter's good deeds may be transferred to the person they wronged. If they have no good deeds left, the sins of the wronged person will be transferred to them.
Divine wrath and humiliation: Backbiting incurs Allah's displeasure. In this life, a backbiter may face public shame and humiliation, while a grave punishment awaits them in the hereafter.
Torment in the grave: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned passing by graves where people were being tormented for spreading malicious gossip (namimah).
The punishment for slander (Buhtan)
Slander is an even greater sin than backbiting. It involves speaking falsely about a person in their absence to harm their reputation. The punishments include:
Grave punishment: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described a scene where he saw people scratching their faces and chests with copper nails, and when he asked who they were, he was told they were those who used to backbite and slander others.
Great punishment in this world and the hereafter: The Quran declares that those who falsely accuse chaste, unaware, and believing women are cursed in this world and the hereafter and will have a great punishment.
Severe penalty in this life and the hereafter: A grievous penalty awaits those who love to see scandal publicized among believers.
Eighty lashes for false accusation: For the specific act of falsely accusing a chaste person of unlawful sexual intercourse (adultery), Islamic law prescribes a punishment of 80 lashes if the accuser cannot produce four witnesses.
How to atone for backbiting and slander
Repentance for these sins involves more than just asking for Allah's forgiveness. Since they involve the rights of another person, atonement also requires addressing the wronged individual.
Sincere repentance to Allah: The offender must sincerely repent to Allah, resolve never to repeat the sin, and seek Allah's forgiveness.
Seek forgiveness from the wronged person: If the wronged person is aware of the backbiting or slander, the offender must seek their forgiveness directly.
Supplicate and defend their honor: If telling the wronged person would cause greater conflict, the offender should not inform them. Instead, they should pray for the person's forgiveness and speak well of them in their absence, counteracting the negative statements they made.
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