GhIbah (Backbiting)
Definition
Among the gravest sins of the tongue treated in Part Two — mentioning of a person what they would dislike
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use GhIbah (Backbiting).
-
"The other opinion is that it is not necessary to inform the person of the backbiting, slander, or insult. It is sufficient for the repentance to be between the individual and اللّٰه, and to mention the person wronged in positive terms in the places where they were previously slandered, replacing the backbiting with praise and commendation, and mentioning their virtues, and the slander with acknowledgment of their chastity and integrity, and to seek forgiveness for them to the extent of the backbiting."
— Ibn al-Qayyim, Volume One
-
"Even if they fast and pray, when they speak, they lie, when they promise, they break it, and when entrusted, they betray. Third, backbiting. Safeguard your tongue from it. Backbiting is more severe than thirty fornications in Islam, as mentioned in Hadith. The definition of backbiting is to mention something about someone they dislike if they heard it, establishing one as an unjust slanderer, even if truthful."
— Imam al-Ghazali, The Beginning of Guidance
-
"do not turn away from one another, do not engage in backbiting against one another, and be, O servants of God, brothers." Jabir and Abu Sa’id both reported that the Messenger of God said: "Beware of backbiting, for it is more severe than adultery: a man may commit adultery and then repent, so God forgives him; but the one who partakes in backbiting will not be forgiven until his victim forgives him.""
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 24: Evils of the Tongue
Appears in
1 book in the library
Hear the term in context.
Every book above uses GhIbah (Backbiting) the way the classical scholars meant it. Listen with the full Study Kit in the app.