Gheebah and its expiation
Salam,
I know how Backbiting is a major sin in Islam and for years I have struggled with this. But knowingly and also unknowingly, I do alot of backbiting for people I know(relatives/friends) and also people I do not know(celebrities/ Tv personalities) bc its considered normal to talk about what’s going on and “in” the news. Also most of backbiting is done when I’m very angry or frustrated. But whenever I commit backbiting I instantly realise I did wrong and I make repentance . This thought has been lingering on my mind that I do so much backbiting and maybe alot of my so called good deeds have been given to others and I have accumulated alot of sins of others for which I am ashamed of. How can I make sincere repentance for it and what should I do so that I do no backbiting. It is very hard but I don’t want to commit this sin anymore. Please help.
Jazak Allah
Answer
Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
We thank Allah for giving you the realization of the evils of backbiting. As you have correctly stated, it eats away all the good deeds of a person.
If the person who you spoke bad got to know what you said, then it is compulsory to apologize to them. You will only be forgiven if they forgive you.
If the person who you spoke ill about does not know what you said, then you should make the following Dua:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ
Allahumagh Fir lana wa lahu – “Oh Allah, forgive us and the person who we backbited.”
If the person is not a Muslim, make Dua for his guidance.
References
عن أنس قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ” إن من كفارة الغيبة أن تستغفر لمن اغتبته، تقول: اللهم اغفر لنا وله ” (مساوئ الأخلاق للخرائطي – ص: 105)
عن عبد الله بن المبارك قال : إذا اغتاب رجل رجلا فلا يخبره به ولكن يستغفر الله قال الإمام أحمد رحمه الله قد روينا في حديث مرفوع بإسناد ضعيف كفارة الغيبة أن تستغفر لمن اغتبته (شعب الإيمان – / 317)
وإن كانت غيبة استحله منها (رياض الصالحين – 1/ 22)