The Qur’an and Sunnah on Backbiting

So, I have watched too many “SHAYKH YOUTUBE BIN GOOGLE SEARCH RESULT REFUTES SHAYKH WHO MY FRANDS SAY IZ HARAM” videos, and I have read too many posts that are filled with words, tones, and descriptions that violate the conduct of how a Muslim should conduct themselves, and I feel compelled to remind everyone (especially my arrogant self) about this Hadith from The Prophet:

“…a man asked the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, ‘What is backbiting?’ The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘It is to mention about a man what he does not want to hear.’ He said, ‘Messenger of God! Even if it is true?’ The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘If you utter something false, then it is slander.’”

This Hadith, from Imam Malik’s Muwatta should underline how we should perceive of our words, and that even if what we say is true, which I imagine is seldom the case, we are still doing something that violates The Qur’an and the Sunnah.

The Prophet did not make “exceptions” to this, as is evident by this Hadith (again from Imam Malik’s Muwatta):

“The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Whoever believes in God and the Last Day should speak good or be silent.’”

Not convinced yet? Let’s take a look at The Qur’an:

“(11) O you who have attained to faith! No men shall deride [other] men: it may well be that those [whom they deride] are better than themselves; and no women [shall deride other] women: it may well be that those [whom they deride] are better than themselves. And neither shall you defame one another, nor insult one another by [opprobrious] epithets: evil is all imputation of iniquity after [one has attained to] faith; and they who [become guilty thereof and] do not repent – it is they, they who are evildoers!

(12) O you who have attained to faith! Avoid most guesswork [about one another] – for, behold, some of [such] guesswork is [in itself] a sin; and do not spy upon one another, and neither allow yourselves to speak ill of one another behind your backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would loathe it!
And be conscious of God. Verily, God is an acceptor of repentance, a dispenser of grace!”

The Holy Qur’an, 49:11-12 (Muhammad Asad)

So, you should find proof that someone claims x,y, and z, stop relying on other people to talk and accuse others. You should address them with respect and with the proper manners: i.e. take responsibility and be an adult. Oh, and if you disagree with something, be respectful about disagreement, because to be respectful to others, no matter who it is, is to follow The Qur’an and Sunnah.

Insha Allah I pray that we can all keep this in our thoughts during our moments of weakness when we are tempted to lash out, and to realize that we must maintain the correct conduct, no matter who it is we are dealing with.