Of all the moral failings that can corrode a community, backbiting, known in Arabic as Gheebah, is one of the most insidiously common. It is the social poison we often indulge in while considering it a harmless pastime. Yet, the Quran and Hadith present a starkly different and profoundly sobering perspective on this act, defining it in the most vivid terms to jolt the believer into awareness. The Quran delivers one of the most powerful analogies for backbiting in Surah Al-Hujuraat: “And do not backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would detest it” (49:12). This imagery is intentionally shocking. To speak ill of an absent person is spiritually equivalent to consuming their dead flesh – a notion that is universally revolting. This comparison strips away the casual veneer of gossip, revealing it as a vile and parasitic act that preys on the honour and dignity of another human being. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) further elaborated on its gravity. He was once asked, “O Messenger of Allah! What is backbiting?” He replied, “It is to mention about your brother something that he would dislike.” When asked if the fault must be real to constitute backbiting, he clarified, “If what you say about him is true, then you have backbitten him. If it is not true, then you have slandered him,” which is an even greater sin. This Prophetic definition is profoundly comprehensive. It is not about the truth of the statement, but about the violation of a person’s right to their reputation and privacy. It is a betrayal of trust that fractures the bonds of brotherhood and sows seeds of enmity and suspicion within the community. In a world saturated with social media and instant communication, the temptation to engage in Gheebah is ever-present. The divine guidance, however, remains our moral compass. Guarding our tongues from backbiting is an active affirmation of faith, a protection of communal harmony, and a fulfilment of the rights we owe to one another as members of a single, dignified humanity. It is a direct command to embody the respect for human dignity that Islam so emphatically champions.
