There is no way to deny that backbiting (Geebah) is a very serious sin. In the Holy Quran, the complete code of life for the Muslim, Allah used it synonymously with disaster or ruins in the verse 1 of Surah Al-Humazah this way, “Woe to every slanderer and backbiter”. Now what is backbiting? Our prophet (pbuh) said, “Backbiting or geebah is something about your brother that he does not like.” He further said, “If what you said about him is true you have backbitten and if it was not true you have slandered.” Geebah is called backbiting because the backbiters usually do so behind people’s back and not to their faces. Allah has compared backbiting with eating one’s brother’s flesh after his death in the Holy Quran. Allah has said, “And do not backbite each other. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would dislike it.” (49-Surah al-Hujuraat: 12) Allah has made this comparison to show us how terrible backbiting is. The believer should hate backbiting the way he would hate to eat his dead brother’s flesh. Thus even the listening to backbiting without opposing it is considered a sin.

The matter to ponder over profoundly is how backbiting brings forth woe or disaster to the backbiter. Backbiting is beyond doubt a cowardly act for a Muslim, who, as a representative of Allah, should be courageous in performing his duties and establishing justice on the earth. A Muslim is expected to try his level best to rectify the faults or weakness of the personality of another Muslim. He will perform this subtle responsibility frankly and amicably like a caring brother without any attempt of belittling his personality. Thus backbiting goes against the spirit of universal brotherhood manifested in the verse number 10 of Surah al-Hujuraat of the Holy Quran, where Allah says, “ The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion)”. Backbiting brings not an iota of welfare for the backbiter, it is simply Al-laghw (unnecessary and meaningless words), a crucial vice a believer must be free from (23-Surah Al-Mu’minun:3), and eventually flagrant wastage of time, the priceless gift from Allah for every Muslim. The habit of backbiting slowly but persistently corrodes the personality of the backbiter, thus acutely retarding the spiritual uprising of his soul. It is worth noting that every Muslim should crave for the sanctity of his soul. Hence, backbiting encompasses a Muslim with disasters in the worldly life. A backbiter also awaits the punishment of fire in the life after death.

Backbiting may beget from the baseless notion that the backbiter may attract more dignity or honour by defaming another Muslim. Indeed, it is a disastrous means of obtaining honour. Allah has categorically denied this approach, thereby proclaiming the way of attaining dignity in the Holy Quran this way, “ Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa (who is pious and fears Allah)” (49-Surah al-Hujuraat: 13) .

A Muslim may get rid of this dirty sin if he nurtures and exhibits appropriate honour for his Muslim brothers in the innermost recesses of his heart, taking into account the very fact that every Muslim is a trustee of the honour of another Muslim. Bringing home the inevitable havocs and futility of backbiting, exhibiting appropriate fear of Allah and getting enlightened by spirit of the Quran and the Hadith as to this , we can shun this worthless practice of backbiting. May Allah help us all in this regard.

The writer is a chemical engineer and environmental economist, who is also a Research Fellow of Integrated Education and Research Foundation (IERF), Dhaka - See more at: http://www.daily-sun.com/details_Backbiting-brings-ruins-for-a-Muslim_863_2_33_1_3.html#sthash.FhvxPlPk.dpuf