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In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

Backbiting 2

Written by Sk. Omar Kadrawi

Tanslated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

01/Thol-Qadah/1429 h

31/10/2008 ac



Dear brothers, today’s topic is about negative or counteracting deeds. Those counteracting deeds are like a fatal disease. One may get sick by hundreds of sicknesses and diseases which would not threaten his or her life. But, some will cause death. The counteracting deeds are like the fatal diseases in the world of health.

There are many wrongful or counteracting deeds. The Imam’s talk this Friday is about a social disease which is considered to be counteracting to the good deeds, and it destroys blessings gained. This disease is called “backbiting”. Backbiting is talking of your brother behind his back with what he does not like”. One Musli said: “Why would I backbite anyone? If I were to backbite anyone, then I would backbite my father and mother. They are more deserving to good points or merits (hasanat) than anyone else.”

You must know for certain that a backbiter will loose the merits he/she gets for their good deeds to those he/she backbites. Some scholar said: “Except for that they would be disobeying Allah, I would have wished if everyone in country would backbite me, because all their hasant would be mine”. Another scholar said: “Since the time I realized that backbiting is forbidden, I never backbitten anybody at all”.

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam, Allah has given His mercies to the Muslims when He permitted for them the good rightful mercies, and forbidden for them the harmful and evil acts. What is strange with Muslims is that they left that behind their backs. They fell into the forbidden flesh; they eat it as well as bad and harmful fruits, and they enjoy it. This meat they eat is decaying and stinky. And there is some type of fruit which is found abundantly amongst people in the markets and in their homes, with their men and women at all different levels and standards. They do not pay the cost of this fruit in money. It is a poisonous and a sinister fruit. This whoever feeds on it does not get enough of it. Its tune never gets boring or dull to the listener. Do you know what this forbidden fruit is? It is back biting. It is when one Muslim will talk about his brother Muslim with what the brother would hate. Thinking it is a simple and easy matter; when it is gigantic in Allah’ view. The person may due to Allah’s satisfaction with him/her, say a word to which he pays no attention, and because of that word Allah will elevate him/her many levels or grades. And a person may due to Allah’s anger with him/her, say a word to which he pays no attention, and because of that word Allah will drop him/her into hell.

One of the companions once said to his friends: “you do some acts and you think they are simple and think nothing of them, just like a fly landing on your face and you simply move your arm by your face just like that without a care. At the time of the messenger (PPBU) we used to consider it like mountain.”

Dear Muslims, Islam has given each Muslim the rights of other Muslims upon him or her. A Muslim must not be lenient with the rights of others which he/she must respect. The messenger (PPBU) in his farewell Hajj said: {All your blood, money and honor is forbidden and sacred for you, just as sacred this day is; in this sacred month in this sacred land; and that when Allah gave man the powers of hearing, seeing and speech; Allah made it compulsory that they are used in good and in obedience of Allah}. Backbiting is a clear violation of the sanctity of a Muslim and the sanctity of his/her honor. Backbiting is falling into that sacred area, and indulging into the Haram or the forbidden. Backbiting is a deviation of purpose of use for the mercy of the tongue when it should only be used to say the good. The messenger (PPBU) advised Muaad (معاذ) saying pointing at his tongue: {inhibit that or hold on to that.}. Muaad said: “messenger of Allah, and are we going to be responsible or accountable for what we say?”. The messenger (PPBU) said: {how dare you Muaad, isn’t that many people will get shoved into hell fire for nothing except as result of their tongues.}

The messenger (PPBU) said: {Do you know what backbiting is? They said: No, Allah and His messenger know best, he said: “When you talk of your brother with what he hates”. He was then asked: “Even if what we say is a fact”. He answered: “if it was a fact about the brother then you would have committed backbiting in his back. And if it was not a fact then you have committed a defamation or slander”}. Slander or defamation is the worst form of lying and falsity.

3aa-esha was talking to the messenger about another woman when she said: “do you know Saffiay, you know the short one” and he said: {you used a word which if put into the water of the sea, it would change it}, meaning it would change its taste or smell or colour due to the intensity of ugliness and stink of this word.

Dear Muslims, what do you think is the case with those who sit for hours talking of their brothers and sisters with the worst of descriptions, slashing them off with their sharpened tongues, and severing them apart piece by piece. They spare no effort into being skillful in stripping their covers, and showing or announcing their faults, flaws and failings. They might even include their brothers’ parents and ancestors; bringing them out of their graves and tombs to be part of the feast. They eat the flesh of the living and the dead. They are so unaware of the punishment awaiting them on the Day of Judgment. The messenger (PPBU) said about this punishment: {When I was taken up on my night journey to the heavens above, I passed by some people with fingernails of copper scratching and scarring their faces and chests. I asked Gabriel: who are these? He said: They are those who eat the flesh of people and talk of their honors.}

Jaber said: “we were once traveling with the messenger (PPBU) when we came across a strong foul smell which filled the air” The messenger (PPBU) said: (Do you what this smell is? This is the smell of those who backbite the faithful}. The messenger (PPBU) also said: {whoever says about a faithful person what is not true, Allah will place him in the mud of insanity until he clears himself of what he said}. Mud of insanity is the remains of the people of hellfire.

Dear Muslims, all souls always have a bit of good and faith left within them. Do not ignore that. Souls also have the potential to improve and upgrade their standing. And we ought to sponsor and stipulate that. We might just bring our selves to the level Allah has wanted for us; and up to the level and standard of this religion. The messenger (PPBU) when he was teaching and upbringing his companions he used three methods:

1)               Evidence, proof and argument

2)               Faith

3)               Sense and feelings and emotions.

This class of people who put them selves as judges between them and others. They are happy with themselves, full of praise and complements to them selves. And to others they always give out, invective and hostile. Allah says: {Let those who have faith, let them not make fun of others, for the others may be better than they are, and no women should make fun of other women; for they may be better than they are }.

Those of you, who backbite, and make fun of others, incite and sting and belittle others; do you not realize the fact that what you do does not just taunt and defame your brothers, but in fact you revile, insult and offend Allah too. Most of what you insult people with is based on colour, disabilities, lack of money, desperation, professions; they are of no fault of theirs. Did you not know that it is Allah who gave the form to everything and everyone He created? He put everyone into the image He selected for him or her. And it is Him who gives wealth or hold wealth from whom He wishes. He elevated some over others, and He provided some with unique features and mercies over others. If you belittle or incite then you are doing that to Allah; the most Gracious Himself; in His creation, or His wisdom. Be careful of becoming an unbeliever or an infidel after having faith. And be warned of the life of ignorance after the life in Islam. Allah says: {And do not defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it to insult one’s brother after having Faith. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed aggressors and wrong –doers.}

If you want to know the essence and true nature of backbiting and backbiters then visualize this. Visualise a banquette with human prey or victim. And some people who have the skin of humans and have the hearts of monstrous beasts. And they attack the human victim’s corpse, cutting the flesh with their teeth, and licking the blood with their tongues. Could you imagine that those who do this are humans? Or from some other type of creatures who feed on humans. And can you imagine if the victim or prey is a powerless and defenseless in the face of such an attack. On top of that, imagine if the prey is a brother or a sister under the umbrella of religion or family and kin. That is the crime of backbiting as Allah pictured it eloquently in those ever lasting words when He says: {And do not spy on one another, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate them. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One who forgives and accepts repentance, the Most merciful.}

We Ask Allah forgiveness.

We ask Allah to give us knowledge which will be of benefit, and a good accepted deed. And all thanks be to Allah.

Notes:

Adhan - The call to prayer.

Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.

Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.

Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)

Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.

Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.

Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

Fiqh - Religious law.

Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.

Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.

Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.

Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.

Iman: belief or faith

Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."

Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.

Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.

Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)

Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.

Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.

Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).

Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.

Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah

Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.

PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.

Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.

Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.

Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.

Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.

Siam or Soam- Fasting

Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

Surah - A chapter of the Koran.

Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)

Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.

Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

Zaboor - The Psalms

Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.

Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com