ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Kashf Al-Reeba An Ahkam Al-Gheeba, Removing Doubts From Gheeba Rulings Removing Doubt About The Rulings Relevant To Backbiting Atonement For Backbiting Be informed that it is mandatory on the backbiter to repent, regret and feel sorry for what he has done so he may get himself out of Allāh Almighty exacting on him what he deserves.

After that, he must seek forgiveness of the person whom he had backbitten, perhaps he will forgive him and get him out of his wrongdoing. He ought to seek his forgiveness while he is sorrowful, regretful about what he had done, for a pretentious person may seek forgiveness just to feign piety while inwardly he is not regretful at all, thus he adds another sin.

There are two traditions regarding its atonement: One is this tradition by the Prophet (ص): "The atonement for the one whom you had backbitten is that you seek Allāh's forgiveness for him" ( Ihyā al-Ulūm , Vol. 3, p. 145; also see Al-Kāfi , Vol. 2, p. 357 and p. 172 of Al-A`māli by Sheikh al-Mufīd).

Another is his (ص) statement: "If one owes his [Muslim or human] brother for having wronged him, whether it may be with regard to his honor or wealth, he must seek his forgiveness for it before a Day comes when there is neither a dinar nor a dirham. It will be taken out of his good deeds. But if he has no good deeds, his fellow's bad deeds are transferred to him, adding to those of his own" ( Ihyā al-Ulūm , Vol. 3, p. 145).

One may combine seeking forgiveness for the one whom he backbit with seeking the Almighty's forgiveness especially if the backbitten person may not have come to know about the person who had backbitten him. There is the possibility that if one goes to someone and seeks his forgiveness, this will further cause bad feelings and grudge. Such combination may also be applied in case one cannot meet the person whom he had backbitten because that person is now dead.

It is commendable that one should go and seek forgiveness of one who knew that he had been backbitten by him, and it is commendable for the latter to accept the backbiter's excuse according to the verse by the Almighty that says*, "…* Hold to forgiveness; command what is right…" (Qur'ān, 7:199).

The Messenger of Allāh (ص) asked Gabriel: "What is this forgiveness?" Gabriel said, "Allāh orders you to forgive whoever wronged you, to stay in touch with whoever severed his ties with you, and to give whoever deprived you" ( Ihyā al-Ulūm , Vol. 3, p. 146).