Is hating backbiting in the heart sufficient?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
This questioner asks: Is it sufficient to hate backbiting in the heart only, without the tongue?
Answer:
It is not sufficient; one must point it out. If one finds someone backbiting, he must rebuke him. A person hates it in his heart and rebukes the one who commits backbiting, saying: "Do you think this is permissible? Fear Allah and do not backbite people." This is because Allah commanded the forbidding of what is wrong. He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [Al-Imran: 104]. He the Exalted said: [Al-Imran: 110]. He the Exalted said: [At-Tawbah: 71].
So backbiting is what is wrong. The one who speaks about people, saying "So-and-so is tall," "So-and-so is stingy," "So-and-so is such and such," speaking about what they hate, speaking about them with what they hate—this is backbiting. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4874Sahih (Al-Albani) It was said: "O Messenger of Allah, what if my brother has what I am saying about him?" He said: Sahih Muslim 2589.
So it is obligatory for the Muslim to beware of backbiting. And if he sees someone backbiting, he says to him: "My brother, fear Allah. It is not permissible for you to backbite. Leave people alone, drop this. Do not backbite people, beware." This is because Allah says: [Al-Hujurat: 12].
This questioner asks: Is it sufficient to hate backbiting in the heart only, without the tongue?
Answer:
It is not sufficient; one must point it out. If one finds someone backbiting, he must rebuke him. A person hates it in his heart and rebukes the one who commits backbiting, saying: "Do you think this is permissible? Fear Allah and do not backbite people." This is because Allah commanded the forbidding of what is wrong. He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said:
And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong
وَلْتَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِYou are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.
كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِThe believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌSo backbiting is what is wrong. The one who speaks about people, saying "So-and-so is tall," "So-and-so is stingy," "So-and-so is such and such," speaking about what they hate, speaking about them with what they hate—this is backbiting. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
It is saying something about your brother which he would dislike
الغيبة ذكرك أخاك بما يكرهIf (that failing) is actually found (in him) what you assert, you in fact backbited him, and if that is not in him it is a slander.
إن كان فيه ما تقول فقد اغتبته، وإن لم يكن فيه فقد بهتهSo it is obligatory for the Muslim to beware of backbiting. And if he sees someone backbiting, he says to him: "My brother, fear Allah. It is not permissible for you to backbite. Leave people alone, drop this. Do not backbite people, beware." This is because Allah says:
or backbite each other
وَلا يَغْتَبْ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضًا
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.