What is the proof from the Quran and the Sunnah that backbiting and gossip are prohibited?
ما الدليل من القرآن والسنة على تحريم الغيبة والنميمة؟
Islam strictly guards human dignity and personal honor. The foundational texts contain clear warnings that expose the magnitude of the spiritual sin committed by those who speak ill of others behind their backs.
يحمي الإسلام كرامة الإنسان وعرضه بشكل صارم. وتحتوي النصوص التأسيسية على تحذيرات واضحة تكشف عن حجم الذنب الروحي الذي يرتكبه أولئك الذين يتحدثون بسوء عن الآخرين في غيبتهم.
The Evidence from the Holy Quran | الدليل من القرآن الكريم
Allah Almighty explicitly forbids backbiting in the Quran, using an intentionally repulsing metaphor to awaken the human conscience:
(O believers! Avoid many suspicions, for indeed, some suspicions are sinful. And do not spy, nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of their dead brother? You would despise that! And fear Allah. Surely Allah is the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful.) Surah Al Hujurat 49: 12.
قال الله تعالى: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ) الحجرات 49: 12.
The Evidence from the Prophetic Sunnah | الدليل من السنة النبوية
In this Quranic verse, there is a clear indication of the true magnitude of the sin which the backbiter commits. Consequently, his punishment in the Hereafter is just like the nature of his act, matching the horrific nature of his sin.
The Prophet pbuh on the night of his ascension (Al Isra wal Mi'raj) passed by people with copper nails, scratching their own faces and breasts. He asked: "Who are these, Gabriel?" Gabriel replied: "Those are the ones who eat people's flesh, and fall into backbiting and talking about people's morality and honor."
في هذه الآية دلالة واضحة على حجم الذنب الذي يقع فيه المغتاب، ولذلك فإن عقابه في الآخرة هو من جنس العمل. فقد مر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ليلة عرج به، بقوم لهم أظفار من نحاس، يخمشون وجوههم وصدورهم، فقال: "من هؤلاء يا جبريل؟" قال: "هؤلاء الذين يأكلون لحوم الناس، ويقعون في أعراضهم".
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Why does the Quran compare backbiting to eating a dead brother's flesh?
This powerful metaphor is used to show how detestable backbiting is. Just as an ordinary person would naturally despise eating the flesh of their deceased brother, they should equally despise speaking ill of a person in their absence, as the absent person is helpless to defend themselves.
What did the Prophet witness regarding backbiters during his ascension?
The Prophet pbuh saw a group of people in the Hereafter who had claws made of copper, which they were using to violently scratch their own faces and chests. Gabriel explained that these individuals were being punished for backbiting and attacking people's honor.
What is the connection between suspicion, spying, and backbiting in Surah Al-Hujurat?
The verse outlines a dangerous progression of social sins. Evil suspicion leads a person to spy on others to confirm their doubts, and discovering private flaws through spying inevitably leads them to engage in the sin of backbiting.