The Ruling on Backbiting and the Punishment of the Backbiter

The Shaykh : For this reason, he said regarding the third rank, the third rank: The answer is no, it is not loved, but it is disliked. For this reason, he said: Some of the exegetes said that on the Day of Resurrection, the person who was backbitten will be brought to the backbiter, and he will be shown in the form of a dead person, and it will be said, “Eat from his flesh,” and he will be forced to do so, though he dislikes it, but he is forced to do it as a punishment for him, and may Allah protect us from that. So backbiting, which is violating the honor of your brother, is forbidden. And Abu Dawud narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a group of people on the night he was raised to the heavens, who had nails of brass with which they scratched their faces and chests, meaning they would scrape their faces and chests with these brass nails. He said: We seek refuge in Allah. Then, if a person violates the honor of his brother, his brother will take from his good deeds in the Hereafter. For this reason, it is mentioned that some of the Salaf were told, “So-and-so is backbiting you,” and he said, “Confirmed?” They said, “Yes, he backbited you.” So he prepared a gift for him and sent it to him. The man was surprised at how he was backbiting him while he was sending him a gift. He said, “Yes, you have sent me good deeds, and a good deed remains, while I have sent you a gift in this world that will go away. So this is a reward for your gift to me.” May Allah have mercy on the Salaf.