The Conditions of Repentance from Backbiting
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
She has one last question, in which she says: “In the past, I used to backbite about people, but now I have left backbiting, and praise be to Allah. Will Allah accept my repentance?”
Answer:
Yes, whoever repents, Allah accepts his repentance. If a person repents with a sincere repentance that includes regret for the past, abandoning the sin, and a firm resolve not to return to it, then Allah will accept his repentance. As He, the Exalted, said: [Surat al-Nur: 31] And He, the Exalted, said: [Surat al-Tahrim: 8].
However, a condition of repentance from the right of a Muslim is that he be given his right. If it is money, he is given his right. If it is blood, he is allowed to take retaliation. If it is his honor, he is asked for forgiveness. It is said to him, “My brother, forgive me. I spoke about your honor. Forgive me, pardon me, and overlook my mistake.” If he is unable to do so—because the person who was backbitten has died, or is far away and one cannot meet him or write to him, or one fears that informing him of it will lead to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and evil—then seeking forgiveness from Allah, regret, and sincere repentance are sufficient for him. He should also mention his brother, whom he backbitten, in the gatherings where he backbitten him, mentioning him with good. He should mention him with the good qualities he knows about him, instead of the evil he mentioned him with. This serves as a replacement for that, just as he previously mentioned him with his bad qualities; he then mentions him with his good qualities that he knows, so that this replaces that, if seeking his forgiveness is not feasible out of fear of fitnah. He should also make du'a (supplication) for him and seek forgiveness for him. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) accepts the repentance of those who repent. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
She has one last question, in which she says: “In the past, I used to backbite about people, but now I have left backbiting, and praise be to Allah. Will Allah accept my repentance?”
Answer:
Yes, whoever repents, Allah accepts his repentance. If a person repents with a sincere repentance that includes regret for the past, abandoning the sin, and a firm resolve not to return to it, then Allah will accept his repentance. As He, the Exalted, said:
And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَO you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحًا عَسَى رَبُّكُمْ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُHowever, a condition of repentance from the right of a Muslim is that he be given his right. If it is money, he is given his right. If it is blood, he is allowed to take retaliation. If it is his honor, he is asked for forgiveness. It is said to him, “My brother, forgive me. I spoke about your honor. Forgive me, pardon me, and overlook my mistake.” If he is unable to do so—because the person who was backbitten has died, or is far away and one cannot meet him or write to him, or one fears that informing him of it will lead to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and evil—then seeking forgiveness from Allah, regret, and sincere repentance are sufficient for him. He should also mention his brother, whom he backbitten, in the gatherings where he backbitten him, mentioning him with good. He should mention him with the good qualities he knows about him, instead of the evil he mentioned him with. This serves as a replacement for that, just as he previously mentioned him with his bad qualities; he then mentions him with his good qualities that he knows, so that this replaces that, if seeking his forgiveness is not feasible out of fear of fitnah. He should also make du'a (supplication) for him and seek forgiveness for him. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) accepts the repentance of those who repent. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.