Hadith on The Meaning Of Backbiting (English)
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do you know what backbiting is?” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” The Prophet said, “To mention your brother in a way he dislikes.” It was said, “What if it is true about him?” The Prophet said, “If what you say about him is true, it is backbiting. If it is not true, it is slander.”
Sahih Muslim 2589
Hadith on The Meaning Of Backbiting (Arabic)
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ أَتَدْرُونَ مَا الْغِيبَةُ قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ ذِكْرُكَ أَخَاكَ بِمَا يَكْرَهُ قِيلَ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ فِي أَخِي مَا أَقُولُ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدْ اغْتَبْتَهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ
صحيح مسلم كتاب البر والصلة والآداب باب تحريم الغيبة
Second Hadith on The Meaning Of Backbiting (Arabic)
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ كُنَّا جُلُوسًا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَوَقَعَ فِيهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَخَلَّلْ قَالَ وَمَا أَتَخَلَّلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَكَلْتُ لَحْمًا قَالَ إِنَّكَ أَكَلْتَ لَحْمَ أَخِيكَ
9951 المعجم الكبير للطبراني باب التاء طرق حديث عبد الله بن مسعود
428 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح فى غاية المرام
The meaning of backbiting, based on the second hadith, gives us a graphical understanding of it which is eating the flesh of your. The reality is that no one would like to eat the flesh of their brothe,r as it is even worse than shit. This is telling us how bad it is and we shouldn’t even go near it. Allah has already warned us about it in the Quran
:
O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of Repentance and Merciful. (Q49:12)
To have a full understanding of backbiting, read the full guide on What Is Backbiting In Islam.
