Besides being one of the special prohibitions and major sins...

Besides being one of the special prohibitions and major sins, it is rendered to unspoken backbiting because one has passed a judgment against another about something relevant to that other which he would very much hate if he comes to hear about it. Thus, one combines two transgressions: envy and backbiting. So, let us quote a group of statements about it and its prohibition.

Actually, it deserves more than any of these three to be mentioned due to its occurrence these days so often and even the elite among people are afflicted by it. Rather, it is their ailment for which they can find no remedy. A wise person's priority is to treat an ailment which he can see. Speech here falls into three categories: First: Allāh Almighty has said, "… a slanderer, going about with calumnies" (Qur'ān, 68:11). He also says, "… besides all of that, [he is] base-born" (Qur'ān, 68:13).

Some scholars have said that these verses prove that one who does not keep a statement to himself but goes about committing calumny must have been born illegitimately because the "base-born" is called in Arabic "da`i" (one the name of whose father is claimed by someone else). Allāh Almighty says, "Woe unto every (kind of) scandal-monger and backbiter" (Qur'ān, 104:1). It is said that by "scandal-monger" in this verse is one who is guilty of committing calumnies.

About the wives of Noah and Lot, the Almighty says, "Allāh sets forth, as an example to the unbelievers, the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot: They were (respectively) under two of Our righteous servants, but they were false to their (husbands), and they benefited nothing before Allāh on their [husbands'] account but were told, “Enter the Fire along with (others) who enter!” (Qur'ān, 66:10).

It is said that the wife of Lot told others about the two guests whom they had received, while the wife of Noah used to say that her husband was a madman. The Prophet (ص) has said, "Nobody who is guilty of committing calumny enters Paradise" ( Al-Targhīb wal Tarhīb , Vol. 3, p. 496). In another tradition, he (ص) says that no "qattat" enters Paradise ( Al-`Awāli , Vol. 1, p. 266, tradition No. 58). A "qattat" is one who is guilty of committing calumny.

The Prophet (ص) has also said, "The one amongst you who is the most loved by Allāh is the one who is the best in his manners, those who humble themselves as they embrace others, who find others to be good company and whom others find to be good company.