Sometimes the backbiter...

Sometimes the backbiter, as a force of habit, transmits a false and damaging information about one person to the other creating serious differences between them. In this instance the backbiter doesn’t have any ulterior motive except to satisfy his urge to carry a tail. The Religion of Islam has forbidden even to give ear to backbiting.

The Prophet says: “Neither should you do backbiting, nor listen to a back biter.” [^4] ‘Ali, The Commander of the Faithful, says: “Refute the talk of the backbiter and the one who is unduly inquisitive."[^5] It is evident that if no one takes cognizance of the talk of the backbiter, then he will stop doing it. Whoever carries words to you about others, you must be sure that he is not your friend. If he was really your friend he would have defended you while others talked against your interest.

If someone tells something in confidence, a good Muslim never speaks about it to others. He will keep control over his tongue and never try to sleuth around. Many persons pick up the offending habit of backbiting from their childhood. It is a reflection of what they see and hear happening around them. Therefore the parents shoulder a big responsibility that they protect their children from getting the nefarious habit of backbiting.

First, the parents themselves should refrain from talking ill of others. The mother should not report of some acts of her neighbour and other relations .to the father. The father too should not speak to the mother against his friends and acquaintances. Because, if the parents have the habit of speaking ill of others behind their backs, the children too will indulge in such talk. Sometimes a child speaks to his father against her mother and the elder sister.

In such instances the duty of the father is to correct the child and tell him that it is not good to backbite. He should tell him that if want to say something about your mother or sister, tell directly to them. What you are doing is backbiting, which is very bad. If the children try to backbite, totally ignore them at the moment and try to talk on some other interesting subject. The Prophet of Islam has said: “Don’t give your ears to the backbiter !"[^6] [^1]: Bihar al-anwar, v 75, p.

266 [^2]: Usul al-Kafi, v 2, p. 369 [^3]: Usul al-Kafi, v 2, p. 375 [^4]: Majma al zawaid, v 8, p. 91 [^5]: Gharar al hukm, p. 145 [^6]: Gharar al hukm, p. 125 Previous…