Is backbiting and talebearing among the major sins?

The questioner : A second question was asked: Are backbiting and talebearing considered among the major sins? Yes, indeed, they are among the major sins.

The Shaykh : They are among the major sins. Yes. Backbiting is when a person mentions his brother in his absence with what he dislikes, and talebearing is when he sows discord between people; he comes to a person and says, "So-and-so said such and such about you," in order to create discord between them. Both of them, or each of them, is among the major sins.

The questioner : They are among the major sins, but if a person repents from them, Allah will forgive him, if Allah wills.

The Shaykh : If a person repents from that, Allah will forgive him, but he must seek the forgiveness of the man he backbit. Yes. He must seek the forgiveness of the one he backbit.